Mediation for Unmarried Couples
Managing Relationships
Most couples, married or not, from time to time feel challenged in their relationship.
Not wanting to argue or make things worse, it’s not uncommon for one or both partners to avoid the conflict entirely. Other couples may confront the conflict head on, sometimes resolving their concerns, and other times finding themselves in a bitter cycle of arguing, silence, or worse.
Topics which frequently cause tension between couples include:
• Managing household roles and responsibilities
• Sharing expenses and allocating financial obligations
• Balancing conflicting work and/or sleep schedules
• Dividing responsibility for child care
• Holding different philosophies of child rearing and discipline
• Sharing space within the home
• Having different expectations/needs for intimacy and affection
We know there are others as well. What’s most important is to recognize the strain these conflicts can cause in a relationship, and to address it.
Mediation can help you and your partner have productive discussions about the areas causing conflict between you. Through facilitated conversations, you can talk about the things that are important to you and explore options for meeting not only your goals and needs as a couple, but also your individual goals and needs.
Mediation can also provide an opportunity to learn skills and tools to help you navigate difficult topics and/or situations together in the future.
Planning for Living Together
In the excitement of moving in together, couples don’t always think about “what ifs.” It can be helpful to consider in advance topics that, if not discussed, might cause conflict later.
If you would like to proactively plan, or if you and your significant other are grappling with unexpected differences that you want to work out, mediation can help.
Among the topics that can be helpful to consider include:
• How to manage household responsibilities
• How to manage finances
• Purchasing home furnishings
• Renting and/or purchasing an apartment/condo/house
• Shared and separate time and space
• Whether or not having children is a life goal
• Decisions about education, careers and possible relocations
• Extended family relationships
• Work/life balance
• Unanticipated separation
Deciding to Live Separately
Despite best intentions and efforts to work through challenges, sometimes relationships end or change.
If you’ve decided to go your separate ways, it’s not always as simple as just moving out.
You may find it hard to discuss:
• How to settle finances
• Whether one or both of you moves
• What happens to household furnishings you own together
• What happens to real estate you own together
• What plans will you make for your pets
To learn more, call us at (617) 621-7009 or use the link below to schedule a complimentary consultation.