FULL SERVICE MEDIATION

 OVERVIEW:

Founded by Bruce E. Antman, J.D., with new offices located in the beautiful Watercourt complex in Westlake Village, California, Full Service Mediation (FSM) is an organization, which offers mediation services to the public, specializing in divorce mediation.

WHY MEDIATION WORKS

FSM uses a positive oriented "win-win" approach and can he helpful in resolving any matters that might otherwise be litigated in a courtroom. Mediation is regarded as being more economical, more efficient and more satisfying than litigation, and results in far better outcomes for ALL of the parties. This is why mediation also known as alternate dispute resolution (ADR) is the method of choice for persons needing to resolve conflicts. More information regarding mediation can be obtained from the Academy of Family Mediators (AFM), the Southern California Mediation Association (SCMA), the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution (SPIDR) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA), or by contacting Full Service Mediation (FSM).

THE DIVORCE MEDIATION PROCESS

FSM works with divorcing couples in a variety of ways. When couples have minor children, FSM assists them in creating a parenting plan, which focuses on the needs of the children. This parenting plan is later incorporated into a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA), which can serve as the primary document in processing divorces. With some couples, the final product of the mediation is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is then used by their attorneys to draft the final MSA. Each couple can choose the process that serves them best.

THE MEDIATOR

Currently, Bruce Antman, a mediator who has served the Ventura County community for three years, and Southern California for 23 years, conducts most of the mediations. With a background in law, psychology/psychotherapy and business, Mr. Antman brings a unique combination of professional expertise to the mediation process and is able to recognize the full complexity of the needs of the clients. While mediating, Mr. Antman does not serve as the couple’s lawyer, therapist or financial advisor, but acts strictly as a mediator and is able to refer to attorneys therapists and financial advisors, as needed.

CO-MEDIATION

For clients who prefer to work with two mediators (usually a male-female or attorney/therapist team), FSM offers an opportunity for couples to use a co-mediation process, and has an excellent group of mediation teams available. Some couples choose to have their personal therapist or their personal attorney act as a co-mediator with the FSM staff mediator. Please let us know if you would like more information about this effective option.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Bruce Antman has been a professional mediator since 1977 and is a practitioner member of the Academy of Family Mediators (www.mediators.org) He has been trained at Loyola Law School (J.D. 1980), Phillips Graduate Institute (1990-1992) and California State University, (BA and MBA program) Stanislaus and Los Angeles, and has mediated more than 5,000 cases, having worked with more than 6,000 children. He has presented programs on divorce mediation to the American Psychological Association, the Southern California Mediation Association, and many other professional organizations in California and other parts of the United States.

EXPERIENCE

Private Practice Ventura and Los Angeles Counties -Westlake Village Office – Opened January 16, 2001

Ventura County Superior Court Family Court Services Mediator January 1998 – January 2001

Private Practice - Westwood, West Los Angeles 1977-1997

Los Angeles Superior Court Family and Conciliation Court Mediator 1990-1991

Former Member Arbitration Panel - American Arbitration Association

Former Member Los Angeles Superior Court - Arbitration Panel

In addition to serving as a mediator in more than 5,000 cases, Bruce Antman, J.D. has served as an expert witness and has testified in more than 100 cases during his tenure with the Ventura County Courts. He draws from many different professional disciplines resulting in a multi-faceted approach to help divorcing couples create a parenting plan and a marital settlement agreement which they can use to process their divorce.

THE ROLE OF ATTORNEYS

While attorneys do not participate in the mediation process, settlement-oriented attorneys often refer parties to FSM. Parties reaching agreements are referred to attorneys at the end of the process to review legal documents. From 1977 to 1997, 92% of all couples that mediated with Mr. Antman reached a full agreement, 5% reached a partial agreement and 3% were unable to reach an agreement.

OTHER SERVICES OFFERED

While FSM focuses primarily on custody and visitation issues, FSM can also be helpful in assisting couples with creating agreements regarding property, spousal support and child support.

In addition to mediating custody and visitation disputes, FSM offers mediation services to persons and businesses with other types of conflicts, including real estate transactions, consumer transactions, general commercial transactions, and entertainment industry issues. In any situation where the parties will have ongoing contact, and a need to interact with one another, mediation is highly indicated to support the need for a working relationship.

Additionally, FSM provides mediation training, special master services in high-conflict cases, custom presentations to businesses and is available for public speaking engagements for public and private groups.

REFERENCES

Information regarding Mr. Antman's work with Family Court Services in Ventura and Simi Valley may be obtained from attorneys, judicial officers and clients who have knowledge of his work. References are available upon request.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT US AT:

FULL SERVICE MEDIATION

The Watercourt

910 Hampshire Road Suite “T”

Westlake Village, CA 91361

Telephone 805-777-7200

FAX 805-777-3455

E-Mail BAntman@FSMediation.com

Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturdays by appointment

FSM SUPPORTS THE M-A-N-E INSTITUTE --- A percentage of all fees collected by FSM goes to support the MANE Institute, a non-profit mediation organization (501 c- 3) founded in December 1990 by Bruce Antman, to provide mediation services to schools, churches, synagogues, the United Nations, and other non-profit organizations in furtherance of peaceful resolution of conflict situations. More information regarding the work of MANE is available upon request. (MANE is an acronym for Mediation – Arbitration – Negotiation – Education)