Hickman Mediation & Arbitration LLC

08/08/2025

The curious case of why lawyers are not called 'doctor';

I have been a practicing lawyer since 1988, and I’m acutely aware of the interesting and curious dance that attorneys have with how to be addressed professionally, particularly in academic settings. It never occurred to me, however, that lawyers would use the title

08/13/2024

Steps to protect residential solar energy consumers

The Treasury Department has announced that Treasury, the CFPB, and the FTC have taken actions to address unfair and deceptive consumer acts and practices in the residential solar power sector. Treasury, CFPB, and FTC released Consumer Advisories warning the public on how to spot potential unfair and deceptive practices and encouraging consumers to file complaints of suspicious behavior to FTC, CFPB, and state consumer protection offices.

Treasury, CFPB, and FTC, along with the Departments of Energy and Housing and Urban Development, also announced an interagency partnership with the goal of coordinating efforts to prevent predatory practices. The new partnership will foster greater communication and collaboration between the agencies and better protect consumers from bad actors.

Treasury Resources:

Consumer Solar Awareness website

12/25/2023

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for giving us the Reason for this Season! 🎄

10/19/2022

Abandoning Our Assumptions When in Conflict By CINNIE NOBLE

One of the things that many of us do when we are in conflict is to make assumptions about the other person and their motives. Depending on our relationship with the person, the nature of the situation, what is said or done (or not said or done), and our frame of mind and heart at that time, there are varying levels of assumptions we may make.

To read the entire article visit:

Conflict Management Blog by Cinnie Noble “For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.” Thich Nhat Hanh One of the things that many of us do when we are in conflict is to make assumptions about the other person and their motives. Depending on our...

10/05/2022

When Unmarried Couples Separate – What’s Best for the Children? By LYNNE HALEM
..Unmarried couples do not need the court’s approval to separate their assets and liabilities. Children, however, raise distinctly different questions. Assuming that there is no question of paternity and both parties acknowledge that they are the biological parents, agreements need to be reached with respect to the support and custody of the children. Where the children live and with whom are important decisions. With respect to child support, u***d parents are not absolved from the responsibility for child support. Married or unmarried parents are required to pay child support whether or not the child lives with them or not.

To Read the entire article visit: (https://www.mediate.com/when-unmarried-couples-separate-whats-best-for-the-children/)

Separating married couples, with or without children, know that divorce requires the legal dissolution of the marriage.  Divorce is not an action dictated by a couple’s decision to separate or by the parties entering into a written agreement.  Divorce requires the court approval of the parties.....

09/28/2022

Christian Aspects of Mediation / Dialogue (A Reflection) By CHARLIE YOUNG

Being a facilitative mediator and mediator trainer has exposed me to intense situations and forced me to rethink my Christian values and modes of dialoguing. Sharing these may help others practice Christian dialogue techniques.
Internalize the concepts of this article by considering the terms mediation and civil dialogue as synonymous and think of mediators as mentors, such as parents, teachers etc.

To read more, visit: (https://www.mediate.com/christian-aspects-of-mediation-dialogue-a-reflection/)

Being a facilitative mediator and mediator trainer has exposed me to intense situations and forced me to rethink my Christian values and modes of dialoguing.  Sharing these may help others practice Christian dialogue techniques.   Internalize the concepts of this article by considering the terms ...

09/08/2022

Who Gets the Custody of Pets in a Divorce?
By ROSEANN VANELLA

Pets are an integral part of a family, so no wonder when a couple is contemplating a divorce, the fate of the beloved pet can become an emotionally charged issue. It’s best to deal with this sensitive issue with the help of a professional mediator who can facilitate a fair resolution while taking into account the sensitivities of both parties who want to keep the custody of the family pet.

To read the entire article visit: (https://www.mediate.com/who-gets-the-custody-of-pets-in-a-divorce/)

Pets are an integral part of a family, so no wonder when a couple is contemplating a divorce, the fate of the beloved pet can become an emotionally charged issue. It’s best to deal with this sensitive issue with the help of a professional mediator who can facilitate a fair resolution while taking ...

08/29/2022

Custody Mediation with a Narcissist Spouse By ZARIRA LOVE

A narcissist is so caught up in themselves that they fail to think about others. They lack empathy and do whatever it takes to get what they want. For these reasons, mediation with a narcissist may seem impossible. After all, the goal of custody mediation is to work together to reach a compromise that benefits your child — not either of you. However, with tensions already high, a less aggressive form of resolution might be what it takes to escape a narcissist’s mind games.

To read the entire article visit; (https://www.mediate.com/custody-mediation-with-a-narcissist-spouse/)

A narcissist is so caught up in themselves that they fail to think about others. They lack empathy and do whatever it takes to get what they want. For these reasons, mediation with a narcissist may seem impossible. After all, the goal of custody mediation is to work together to reach a compromise th...

08/26/2022

Nesting Divorce: When Co-Parents rotate in and out of the home By
ROSEANN VANELLA

When you are considering a divorce, it is a reasonable question to ask whether you could stay in the same home as your ex. Co-parenting while sharing the same house is a growing trend particularly because of an increased consciousness about the impact of a divorce on the kids.
This parenting arrangement is commonly termed as “nesting” where the co-parents take turns living in the marital home so that the children do not have to move out. The non-adversarial divorce mediation process offers an opportunity to explore the possibility of nesting in a cooperative environment.

To read more visit: (https://www.mediate.com/nesting-divorce-when-co-parents-rotate-in-and-out-of-the-home/)

When you are considering a divorce, it is a reasonable question to ask whether you could stay in the same home as your ex. Co-parenting while sharing the same house is a growing trend particularly because of an increased consciousness about the impact of a divorce on the kids. This parenting arrange...