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Mediation in Action — George & Lucy
The Situation
George and Lucy have a good life. They have two healthy children. They have each enjoyed steady employment for years. Lucy works for the state government, and George has been employed in a small business. However, in the last five years, the business has experienced setbacks, and two years ago the business closed its doors, leaving George without a job. Since his job loss, George accrued many bills that he paid by credit card, sinking Lucy and the family deep into debt. The couple paid off the credit card bills with a home equity line of credit and do not wish to borrow any more, but they are still struggling. Family finances are very slim. George is looking for a job. Both he and Lucy are getting frustrated by the situation. For the first time in their marriage, they are contemplating divorce.
The Resolution
After their first Mediation to Stay Married meeting, George and Lucy realize that they need to give each other full disclosure on their financial situation. Working with the mediator gives them the opportunity to talk through all of their possible options. With the help of the mediator, they decide to put off the decision to sell their house while they jointly consult with a bankruptcy attorney, who can explain to them some of the rules pertaining to one spouse's responsibilities for the other spouse's debts. During the process, Lucy expresses concern about the pace of George's job search. The mediator refers the couple to an employment counselor to help George to find options for someone with his experience. George realizes that his age will mean an up-hill battle to find work. He and Lucy work with the mediator to create a timeline to follow and develop alternative financial plans. Together, with the guidance of Mediation to Stay Married, George and Lucy weather the storm as they find ways to navigate a new course to financial stability and marital peace.
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