After more than 30 years practicing Family Law and helping clients with compassion and convenience to handle all of their family law, child custody, divorce, probate, estate planning and bankruptcy issues in Missouri, Anne Kiske, attorney, now focuses exclusively on mediation—helping families reach practical, respectful solutions without unnecessary conflict.
After three decades representing clients in family law matters, I have transitioned from litigation to mediation.
This shift reflects my simple belief: most families benefit from solutions built through cooperation rather than courtroom battles. Mediation provides an opportunity to create customized agreements while preserving relationships and reducing stress and increasing positive childhood outcomes.
The hallmark of mediation is its focus on the interests, needs, values and goals of the parties, as opposed to their positions. The mediator tries to facilitate an agreement, but does not force either party to agree. In short, both parties should make a good-faith attempt to agree on issues that are in dispute. Neither party, however, should feel that the “agreement” was forced upon him/her.
With my decades of experience, I can help you navigate the difficult conversations, identify options, and reach durable and lasting agreements.
Instead of leaving your important family decisions to a judge, I help you work together to solutions specifically tailored to your family’s needs.
Mediation typically reduces the time, expense, and emotional toll associated with contested litigation. And most people find that an agreement they reach with each other is easier to navigate than one imposed on them by the courts.
So, what exactly is mediation and is it right for you?
Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process in which a neutral third party—a mediator—helps you and your spouse or your child’s other parent resolve your disputes and reach mutually acceptable agreements about how to move forward. Unlike a judge, a mediator does not make decisions for you or take sides. Instead, the mediator facilitates productive discussions and conversations, helps you identify options for your family, and guides you toward solutions that work for everyone involved.
In family law matters, mediation is commonly used for:
- Divorce and legal separation
- Child custody and parenting plans
- Child support
- Property and debt division
- Spousal support
- Post-divorce modifications and disputes
The goal is to help families resolve issues respectfully and efficiently, without the time, expense, and stress often associated with litigation.
I think of mediation as an opportunity for your family to build a win-win solution – both co-parents, or both spouses win not by what they take, but how wisely they build the future and lean into problem solving. The goal in my mediations is to try to outgrow the fight itself – not to win the argument and lose the relationship, but to rise above the fighting – we all keep living in the same community after all. In short, true victory through mediation is to win without fighting.
I will not function as an attorney for either of you in the mediation process, and I will not give either of your legal advice. However, you will have access to my more than 30 years of experience in family law for the conversations you will have together.
Many attorneys will refer their clients to mediation as part of the litigation process. Some families will self-refer to mediation without being represented by attorneys. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to get to mediation with your spouse or co-parent.
My one and fast rule in mediation is that there is no name calling. Each of you has a name, and those given names will be used when speaking to each other.
For mediation to succeed, I will require you to bring certain documents to the mediation – be prepared for a list from me prior to your first mediation session.
Mediation is a minimum commitment of 2 hours. There is no maximum and we can mediate as often as necessary to keep your family on track.
Is Mediation Right for You?
Mediation may be a good choice if:
You and the other party (your spouse or co-parent) are willing to communicate and negotiate.
You want more control over the outcome for your family instead of having a judge make decisions.
You would like to reduce legal costs and resolve matters more efficiently.
You want to preserve a working relationship, especially when your children are involved. This also sets a good example for your children on how to work through conflict.
You may be having trouble communicating in your co-parent relationship and prior to filing a litigation you desire an opportunity to sit and talk to your co-parent to see if progress can be made.