Consider Divorce Mediation

Divorce can be messy. We have all heard the war stories about it. It can become a tangled mess, fighting over who gets what. It makes an already uncomfortable situation worse, not to mention the expense of lawyers and court hearings. Luckily there are alternatives to make the process a little easier. Divorce mediation.

Divorce mediation is one of the most widely used options in divorce. When considering the cost of a court hearing or a trial, divorce mediation is at more inexpensive option. Not only does it save money, but it can be a more peaceful way of settling a divorce. So, what does divorce mediation involve?

Divorce Mediation – Breaking It Down

Divorce mediation involves you, your soon-to-be ex-spouse, a mediator you have hired, and possibly your respective attorneys. The whole idea of divorce mediation is to find a way to resolve the issues in your divorce, such as custody and property settlement. The good thing about a divorce mediator is that they are completely neutral. A divorce mediator is independent and does not work for either side.

A divorce mediator is a buffer and meant to help keep you focused on the matter at hand. It is easy to get caught up in the emotions during a divorce, so having a mediator there helps keep a realistic view on things.

How Divorce Mediation Helps

A divorce mediator can also help you and your ex-spouse come up with some ideas that you both can agree on. This makes negations go faster, and settlements happen sooner in most cases.

There are some things to think about when considering a divorce attorney:

• Divorce mediations are confidential- with the personal nature of divorce, it is important to feel secure that what is discussed is kept private. In a court hearing or trial, it is considered public domain, so the records are public.
• Divorce mediations end in a settlement a majority of the time- Because you and your ex-spouse are able to work with the mediator to form a plan, settlements are easier to come to.
• You and your soon-to-be ex-spouse retain control- No one wants someone else to decide what happens with some of the most important things in your life.  You and your ex=spouse make the decisions about how your divorce is handled with the help of the divorce mediator.
• You are still able to have your lawyers present with you- although you have the choice to attend divorce mediation without your lawyer, they are also allowed to be present during mediation if it makes you feel more comfortable.
• Divorce mediation is quicker- A typical divorce trial can last up to 18 months or longer in some cases. With divorce mediation, the average length of a divorce settlement is 4-20 sessions.
• Divorce mediation can improve communication- One of the best parts of divorce mediation is that it can improve communication between you and your ex-spouse which can make things much easier, especially if there are children are involved.
• Divorce mediation is less expensive- with the average divorce by trial costs about $15,000, mediation is about one third the cost.

Cost-effective and Simple

Divorce is hard enough, especially on the children. It is emotional, chaotic, and messy. There’s nothing worse than making a tense situation more difficult, especially when it doesn’t need to be. Mediation is always an option, and you should discuss every option with your lawyer. Taking the opportunity to make it easier on your family by going through divorce mediation can cause a lot less stress and anxiety, especially for the children. While divorce mediation is only one of the options available, it may be the best when considering all the factors.