I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news.

The bad news:

We’re currently in the midst of a global pandemic with the entire world being directly impacted by COVID-19.  Schools, malls, restaurants, courts, business, and even all of the Walt Disney theme parks have shut down around the world.

And yes, the legal system is shut down, too.

So, if you were in the midst of a separation or divorce prior to the shutdown, it’s likely come to an abrupt halt. And, like many of my clients, you’re probably feeling frustrated, worried, or simply at a loss for how to move forward in spite of everything.

The good news?

It is possible to keep things moving forward.

Despite all the bad news you’re hearing on a daily basis, there is good news for your current situation and peace of mind.

It’s called Online Divorce Resolution – mediation facilitated by technology.  

Today’s guest, Melissa Kucinksi, is joining us for the second time to talk about how you can use technology to continue to move forward during this unprecedented time and also in the future when this crisis is behind us. 

Melissa is a family law attorney and mediator, in the Washington, D.C. area.  The use of technology in the legal system, particularly in the family law arena, is becoming increasingly commonplace. And now, in the age of social distancing, we’re utilizing it more and more every day. 

Melissa served as a consultant to the Hague Conference on Private International Law and has written a dozen articles on international children’s issues and mediation of complex cross-border custody and abduction cases. She has taught the International Family Law course at the George Washington University School of Law since 2010.  She is a fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

I am very honored to have Melissa on the show. 

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• What specifically is Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) and what the benefits of resolving disputes online are
• What is different between the online vs. in-person mediation process What the benefits of mediation are over litigation in terms of going the distance in court
• How Melissa uses ODR in her personal practice
• How training specifically for online dispute resolution is different from traditional mediation
• What to look for in an ODR professional to facilitate this alternative to litigation and what makes for a good mediator

Links:

• MK Family Law
• Melissa on Facebook
• Melissa on LinkedIn 
• The Tracey Coates Show EP 4
• Collin Rule – Godfather of ODR