How Mediation Can Be a Faster Solution for Divorce

How Mediation Can Be a Faster Solution for Divorce

Divorce is an emotional time for the two spouses as well as any children they might have together. It is not unheard of for some divorces to be tied up in the court system for two or three years. This is a long time to wait for something to be finalized. However, something exists that can speed this process up significantly. Divorce mediation is a viable solution for getting through a divorce where the two spouses want to finalize everything quickly.

 

How Does It Work So Quickly? 

The reason why mediation is often sought is that it does not involve lawyers and judges. Instead, the two individuals getting divorced will meet with a mediator. These three will discuss all the issues at play, and as a group, they will decide how everything will be separated. Sometimes agreements will be reached within a matter of hours. Occasionally, it takes a little longer. One of the many great things about using a mediator is that you and your spouse can suspend sessions if you are not quite ready to end your marriage.

 

What Can Be Decided Through Mediation? 

Any aspect of a divorce can be settled if you and your spouse meet with a mediator. Naturally, couples who have less property will likely be able to reach an agreement much sooner compared to couples that have a great deal. The same is true of couples who have minor children; it usually takes a few hours more to reach agreement about custody and other child-related matters. If you are willing to compromise or if you and your spouse have similar ideas of how everything will be split and how you will co-parent any minor children, then mediation will go by much faster.

 

Why Are a Lot of People Still Hesitant Concerning Mediation? 

Many people’s concern about mediation is that is works too quickly. Some couples go into the divorce process still unsure if this is what they really want. A concern with mediation is that the divorce will get finalized before someone’s mind can actually be made up. This is a completely unfounded and untrue assumption. While mediation can get the process over with much faster, you are still in control of what happens. If you and your spouse want to meet with a mediator first and then take a month or so to decide if this is what you both want, then you are completely free to do so.

At the end of the day, divorce mediation puts you in total control of your divorce. All loose ends will be taken care of, and you will not have to step into court at all.

About Oliver Ross

Oliver Ross, JD*, PhD founded Out-of-Court Solutions Inc. in 1995 and since then has mediated over 3,000 divorce and family matters. He is a select member of the Maricopa Superior Court Family Mediation roster