Divorce Mediation Services in South-Central Wisconsin
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Mediation
Mediation is a voluntary, informal and confidential process in which the parties choose to work together with a neutral third party (mediator) to resolve their disputes in a mutually beneficial way.
It is an effective and less costly alternative to contested litigation. In almost all cases, the parties are more satisfied with solutions that have been mutually agreed upon and are more likely to follow through and comply with the terms of an agreement reached in mediation.
About
Barry Stern
Barry Stern is an experienced certified divorce mediation professional who assists married and unmarried parties, both during and after divorce or separation, in the resolution of their disputes concerning child custody, physical placement and visitation, parenting issues, division of property and debts, child support and spousal/partner support.
After receiving a B.S. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, I practiced law for 25 years. My legal experience includes twelve years as a state administrative law judge, presiding over cases involving worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and public employee disability, health insurance and retirement benefits, five years as a state legislative attorney, and five years as a worker’s compensation attorney.
As an administrative law judge, I often assisted parties and their attorneys in negotiating the terms of compromise settlement agreements in order to avoid litigation.
As a practicing attorney, I often felt that the legal system was far too adversarial, and that I would prefer to use my skills in an environment in which the ground rules promote cooperation and collaboration, not conflict. I sincerely believe that all disputes can be successfully resolved by mediation if the parties are willing and able to treat each other with respect and to understand each other’s underlying concerns and interests.
In 2006, I completed a divorce mediation training certificate program and in 2008, I attended an advanced divorce mediation training seminar, through the University of Wisconsin – Madison Department of Professional Development and Applied Studies. I regularly attend conferences and seminars concerning family and divorce mediation and domestic violence.
I left the legal field in 2008 to work in the field of family and divorce mediation. In addition to maintaining a private mediation practice, I mediated child custody and physical placement cases for the Milwaukee County Family Court for five years, and for the Washington County Family Court for three years.
I am a current member of the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Association of Mediators (WAM). I served on the WAM board of directors from 2010 through 2013. For several years, I was also a member of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC).
Mediation
Services
Child Custody
Mediation of disputes regarding child custody, physical placement, and visitation.
Division of Property and Debts
Mediation of disputes regarding the division of property, assets, and debts.
Child Support
Mediation of disputes regarding child support.
Spousal/Partner Support
Mediation of disputes regarding maintenance (alimony) and other spousal support.