How pro se litigants can best prepare for family law mediations

Posted Saturday, April 20th, 2019 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, South Carolina Specific

Most pro se family court litigants are pro se either because they cannot afford attorneys or do not want the contentious litigation that they assume

Mediator or messenger

Posted Monday, June 18th, 2018 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

During the past few weeks two attorneys I greatly respect have conducted mediations for my clients. One mediator settled every single case, often in circumstances

Getting arbitration awards turned into court orders (or preventing it from happening)

Posted Thursday, October 5th, 2017 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Family Court Procedure, Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Specific

Many of my colleagues are turning to arbitration to resolve family law disputes. Few seem aware that an arbitrator’s award does not automatically become a

Not all cases need to settle

Posted Wednesday, November 16th, 2016 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

A few weeks ago one of my cases was mediated by a retired family court judge. It began with the her talking privately to me

An aggressive mediator is a hammer but not every case is a nail

Posted Saturday, December 12th, 2015 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

The model of mediation we were all taught in the family court mediation training has the parties sitting together with the mediator in one room,

South Carolina Supreme Court promulgates new rule for appointing mediators in family court

Posted Wednesday, April 29th, 2015 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Family Court Procedure, Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys, South Carolina Specific

An August 27, 2014 South Carolina Supreme Court order requires dismissal of family court actions if they are not resolved or set for trial within

The drawback of preventing non-parties from attending mediations

Posted Monday, March 23rd, 2015 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

ADR Rule 5(d) states that “ADR [Alternative Dispute Resolution] conferences are private. Other persons may attend only with the permission of the parties, their attorneys

Should one execute a formal agreement at the conclusion of mediation?

Posted Monday, January 26th, 2015 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Litigation Strategy, Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

A frequent debate among my family law colleagues is whether one should have one’s client execute a formal agreement before concluding mediation if one has

How mediators and attorneys can make mediation more productive

Posted Saturday, January 24th, 2015 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

For attorneys and their clients there’s often much unproductive time during mediation. When the mediator is meeting with the opposing party, the attorney and client

The Benefits of Co-Mediation in Family Court

Posted Thursday, October 2nd, 2014 by Gregory Forman
Filed under Continuing Legal Education, Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution, Not South Carolina Specific, Of Interest to Family Court Litigants, Of Interest to Family Law Attorneys

Karen Klickstein-Forman and I spoke today for the Mediation and Meeting Center of Charleston on The Benefits of Co-Mediation in Family Court. Karen drafted the

Put Mr. Forman’s experience, knowledge, and dedication to your service for any of your South Carolina family law needs.