Wichita Family Law Mediation & Arbitration

Not every family law dispute needs to be decided in a courtroom.

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Mediation and arbitration can provide divorcing spouses, parents, attorneys, and other parties with a more private, focused, and efficient way to resolve difficult family law disputes.

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Penner Lowe Law Group provides family law mediation and arbitration services in Wichita and throughout Kansas. Jeffrey N. Lowe is an AAML Certified Family Law Mediator and AAML Certified Family Law Arbitrator through the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He brings extensive experience handling complex divorce, custody, support, property, and post-divorce disputes to his work as a neutral.

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Jeff regularly works with matters involving significant assets, closely held businesses, complicated financial issues, contested parenting arrangements, and other disputes where knowledge of Kansas family law and practical courtroom experience can be particularly valuable.

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Whether the goal is to help the parties reach their own agreement through mediation or to obtain a decision from a neutral through arbitration, the objective is the same: provide a fair, efficient, and informed process for resolving family law disputes.

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Family Law Mediation

Mediation is a confidential dispute-resolution process in which a neutral mediator works with the parties and their attorneys to identify disputed issues, evaluate possible solutions, and attempt to reach a voluntary agreement.

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Unlike a judge or arbitrator, a mediator does not decide the case. The parties remain in control of whether an agreement is reached and, if so, its terms.

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Family law mediation can be used to address virtually every issue arising in a divorce or domestic-relations matter, including:

• Division of property and debts

• Business and professional interests

• Retirement accounts and investments

• Real estate and other significant assets

• Child custody, residency, and parenting time

• Child support

• Spousal maintenance

• Attorney fees and other financial issues

• Post-divorce disputes

• Modification of existing orders

• Other family law disagreements

 

Mediation can be effective even when the parties strongly disagree or previous settlement negotiations have been unsuccessful. The parties do not need to begin the process close to an agreement. An experienced mediator can help identify the issues actually preventing settlement, test competing positions, and explore practical alternatives that may not be available through a traditional court ruling.

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Why Consider Mediation?

A successful mediation allows the parties to resolve their dispute on terms they choose rather than having the outcome imposed upon them after trial.

Depending upon the circumstances, mediation may offer:

• Control. The parties decide whether to settle and determine the terms of their agreement.

• Privacy. Sensitive family and financial matters can be addressed outside a public courtroom.

• Efficiency. Mediation can often resolve disputes more quickly than continued litigation.

• Flexibility. Parties can develop solutions tailored to their particular family and circumstances.

• Cost savings. Resolving a dispute without prolonged discovery, motion practice, and trial can substantially reduce litigation expense.

• Finality. A negotiated resolution can eliminate the uncertainty associated with trial and, potentially, appeal.

• A less adversarial process. This can be particularly valuable for parents who must continue making decisions concerning their children long after the legal proceeding ends.

 

When an agreement is reached, the parties and their attorneys can document the settlement and submit it to the court for approval when necessary.

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Family Law Arbitration

Arbitration is different from mediation.

In mediation, the neutral helps the parties make the decision. In arbitration, the parties ask the neutral to make the decision.

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In a family law arbitration, the parties agree to submit specified disputed issues to a neutral arbitrator. Each side is given an opportunity to present relevant evidence and argument, and the arbitrator then issues a decision in accordance with the parties' arbitration agreement and applicable law.

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Arbitration can provide many of the benefits of a traditional trial while allowing the parties and their attorneys greater control over the process.

Depending upon the circumstances and the parties' agreement, arbitration may provide:

• More flexible scheduling

• A streamlined hearing process

• Greater privacy

• The ability to select a neutral with substantial family law experience

• Focused resolution of particular disputed issues

• Reduced delay compared with traditional litigation

• A defined procedure tailored to the particular case

Family law arbitration can be particularly useful when the parties have reached agreement on most issues but need a neutral decision-maker to resolve the remaining disputes.

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The scope, procedures, effect, and availability of arbitration depend upon the parties' agreement and applicable Kansas law. Parties considering arbitration should consult their individual attorneys regarding those issues before entering into an arbitration agreement.

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Mediation, Arbitration - or Both?

Mediation and arbitration do not necessarily have to be competing alternatives.

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Some cases can benefit from a staged approach. The parties may first mediate in an effort to reach a comprehensive settlement. If only a limited number of issues remain unresolved, they may agree to submit those issues to arbitration or proceed to court.

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For example, parties may successfully resolve parenting arrangements and most property issues through mediation but remain unable to agree upon the value or division of a business, the amount or duration of maintenance, or another discrete financial issue.

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A process can often be structured around the particular needs of the case.

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Why Choose Jeffrey N. Lowe as Your Family Law Mediator or Arbitrator?

Effective family law dispute resolution requires more than simply bringing people into the same room. A neutral must understand the law, recognize the practical and financial issues driving the dispute, and have the experience necessary to evaluate competing positions realistically.

Jeffrey N. Lowe has devoted a substantial portion of his legal career to Kansas family law, including complex divorce, custody, support, property, and post-divorce litigation.

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Jeff is:

• An AAML Certified Family Law Mediator

• An AAML Certified Family Law Arbitrator

• A Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

• A Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers

• Board Certified as a Family Law Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy

• Recognized by Best Lawyers in America in Family Law, Family Law Mediation, and Family Law Arbitration

 

His experience includes matters involving complex marital estates, business interests, high-income support issues, significant property disputes, contested parenting issues, and other sophisticated domestic-relations matters.

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That litigation experience is valuable in alternative dispute resolution. Understanding how family law disputes are negotiated, prepared, tried, and ultimately decided can help a neutral identify the issues that matter, understand the risks facing both sides, and keep the process focused on realistic paths toward resolution.

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When serving as a mediator or arbitrator, Jeff serves as a neutral. He does not represent either party. Parties are encouraged to have their own attorneys advise them regarding their individual rights and interests.

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Mediation and Arbitration for Attorneys and Their Clients

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Jeff accepts mediation and arbitration matters referred by family law attorneys throughout Kansas.

Counsel may contact Penner Lowe Law Group regarding available dates, the appropriate format and length of the proceeding, submission of mediation statements or arbitration materials, and other scheduling or procedural matters.

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Proceedings may be structured to accommodate the needs and complexity of the particular case, including matters involving substantial financial records, expert witnesses, business valuations, parenting professionals, or multiple disputed issues.

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Schedule a Family Law Mediation or Arbitration

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If you are an attorney seeking a mediator or arbitrator for a Kansas family law matter - or a party interested in learning whether mediation or arbitration may be appropriate - contact Penner Lowe Law Group.​

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Jeffrey N. Lowe provides family law mediation and arbitration services in Wichita and throughout Kansas.​

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