2025 40-Hour Basic Family & Divorce Mediation Training

40-Hour Basic Family
& Divorce Mediation Training

8 half-days via Zoom

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Friday , February 21, 2025
Saturday , February 22, 2025

Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Friday, February 28, 2025

8:30 am – 1:30 pm each day

Presented By Program Trainers:

Louise Zito, Esq.
Eva DeFranco, JD

This comprehensive training is designed to give each participant the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to mediate family matters. The training utilizes role plays (don’t be shy) & exercises in breakout rooms, lectures, demonstrations, videos, games (fun) and discussions in small and full group settings. Our multifaceted and practical training approach is designed to immerse you in every aspect of divorce or custody mediation. You will gain actual mediation experience, from conducting the initial meeting through the filing of the final dissolution papers and/or uncontested hearing. You will be provided with tools, techniques and practical advice to enable you to be a competent divorce mediator.

Among the topics covered are:

• Mediation theory and technique
• Suitability for mediation and red flags
• Managing power imbalances
• Procedural road map for mediation
• Psychological and emotional principals, including domestic violence
• Alimony, child support and parenting
• Tax, pensions, property allocations and other financial concerns
• Co-mediation opportunities
• Networking opportunities
• Use of Family Law Software

Participants will learn:

• Mediation theory and technique
• Screening for red flags, suitability for mediation, and to manage power imbalances
• A procedural road map for mediation
• To assist participants to uncover their interests, avoid positions, and problem-solve effectively
• To identify psychological & emotional factors affecting the participants and any children, including domestic violence
• Content and process for the alimony, child support and parenting plan discussions
• How to address tax, pensions, property allocations and other financial concerns
• Co-mediation opportunities
• Networking opportunities
• The use of Family Law Software

CEs and CLEs pending

Special Registration Notices

• No cancellation refunds after 02/09/24
• For those interested in Collaborative Practice, you may receive an additional discount to register simultaneously for both our November 2024 Introductory Interdisciplinary Collaborative Practice Training and this training.

Our Trainers

Eva M. DeFranco, JD

Eva DeFranco, JD, a partner at Collins Hannafin, P.C., is a divorce mediator and collaborative divorce practitioner. She has practiced divorce law since 1986 and was trained in mediation and collaborative practice in 2005 and 2007. She is a partner at Collins Hannafin, P.C.

Eva is committed to helping her clients reduce the toll and turmoil inherent in the adversarial divorce process and guiding them to achieve their most important goals.

Eva is co-founder of the CT Mediation Training Group and conducts the 40-hour basic mediation training in CT for lawyers, mental health professionals and divorce financial planners. Eva is past president and a current board member of the CT Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce.

She is an APFM-certified advanced practitioner and has been recognized with the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating as well as Super Lawyers. Eva is an avid vegetable gardener, potter, hiker and golfer and lives with her husband and golden retriever in Sherman, CT.

https://www.chgjtlaw.com/
(203) 744-2150

Louise Zito, Esq.

Louise Zito has mediated family and related matters for over 35 years and draws heavily on her Mediation experience in her Collaborative work. She takes great delight in training new mediators and learning from them and her partner, Eva DeFranco, who never fails to challenge and energize.

Louise is a Senior Fellow to the Quinnipiac School of Law Center on Dispute Resolution. She is an APFM Certified Advanced Practitioner and is a current Board member and Past President of CCND. She co-founded the Divorce Solutions of CT and the Ct Family Mediation Training Group.

Louise is on the Steering Committee for The Taskforce on Reimagining Family Dispute Resolution, a joint project of CCND and The Center on Dispute Resolution. She is also a principal in Center for Family Mediation and Collaborative Divorce and partner in the Calma Collective which offers advanced trainings for family law professionals in retreat settings.

Louise happily joined Dolan Divorce Lawyers in 2021 after many inspired and joyful years as a partner in Biller, Sachs, Raio and Zito. She now serves as Of Counsel to Dolan Family Law which allows her to continue Consultations, offer Second Opinions and engage in Impasse Resolution and Termination Consultations. She is proud to work with the many talented attorneys in this firm, and grateful for the opportunities afforded her in this position. She has received numerous awards in recognition of her work in law, the community and family dispute resolution, and is most grateful and honored to be the recipient of the Howard Krieger Beacon Lifetime Achievement Award, 2021.

Contact Louise at [email protected] or 203-397-6171.