As you move closer to divorce mediation, you are likely to have a variety of questions about the process. From how it works to your responsibilities, there’s no shortage of information to collect.
Learning more about divorce mediation will give you the confidence you need to use the process to your advantage. The first thing to understand is the goals of mediation:
- To create an equitable divorce agreement, regardless of the circumstances
- To avoid the high cost associated with litigation
- To reduce the amount of stress and trauma often associated with litigation
- To minimize bad feelings, which is important if you’ll be co-parenting
How it works
Unlike with litigation, mediation gives both individuals more power. While you still have to negotiate and compromise, there is no judge making final decisions. Instead, it’s up to you and your ex-spouse, with the help of a mediator, to work everything out.
There is no way of knowing how long it will take to successfully complete divorce mediation. Some couples are able to work everything out in a couple sessions, while others struggle to compromise and find the process dragging on for many months.
As long as you’re continuing to push forward, it’s worth sticking with the process.
Is it the right answer for everyone?
Even though most people find divorce mediation a strong alternative to litigation, there are times when it just doesn’t work.
For example, it’s not nearly as effective when one individual is unwilling to negotiate or compromise. The same holds true if one person is unable or unwilling to converse with the other.
Keep an open mind
Once you decide to divorce, you may assume that you’ll eventually end up in court, letting a judge handle the process. While it may come to this at some point, you should give divorce mediation your all.
When you keep an open mind, you will find yourself inching closer and closer to a final divorce agreement. It may take a good amount of time, but it will be worth it in the end if you’re able to settle on an agreement that is mutually acceptable.
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your marriage and what you need to work through, it’s very possible divorce mediation could be the best way to reach a final resolution.
