Understanding Divorce Mediation and What It Takes to Get Divorced
There are many different approaches to getting a divorce. The most common is litigation, or hiring lawyers and taking the case to court. This course usually leads to a drawn-out process, contentious feelings and actions, emotionally damaged parents and children, and a very expensive legal bill. There is a better way to dissolve your marriage. It is through a mediator. Understanding divorce mediation can help you realize if it is the right choice for your situation.
Mediation entails meeting with a neutral third party and working together to determine the terms of your divorce settlement. Although mediators are experts in law and perhaps other relevant subjects, they are not attorneys, judges, or therapists. They are effective at getting you and your spouse to communicate with one another in a safe environment and respectful manner. They give you all the information and resources you need, including references to other experts, to make reasonable decisions that satisfy both of you. They encourage honesty and full cooperation. They also assist you in dealing with negative feelings that naturally arise during this time so that communication isn’t hindered. For all these reasons, using mediation is best if you are not experiencing any type of abuse or revenge from your spouse.
In the beginning, your mediator will go over the rules and procedures with you so you know what to expect. Understanding divorce mediation will help you stay on course. All sessions will involve both of you being present, unless a private meeting with one of you will facilitate resolving an issue. This private and confidential arrangement is helpful in confronting continual emotional outbursts or creating a more comfortable climate for revealing embarrassing information.
Once you have reached an agreement, the mediator will prepare the court documents, legally-binding settlement agreement and all other legal paperwork for you to sign. It will be detailed and thorough to make it improbable that the judge will disapprove the dissolution of your marriage. Although unlikely since the fact that you two are going through mediation shows that you want to work things out collaboratively, if no agreement is reached, the process will be terminated and you will need to seek legal representation.
Mediation results in better outcomes for you, your spouse, and your children. It decreases the amount of time and money you spend. It gives you control over your divorce and keeps the proceedings private. It nurtures civility and courtesy between you and your spouse so you can have a functional Coparenting relationship afterward. It improves the emotional well-being of your children. By understanding divorce mediation, you and your spouse can choose to have a quick, smooth divorce that benefits everyone.
