Divorce Mediation is More Cost Effective Solution Than Litigation

Divorce costs money. There is no way around it. However, the amount of money involved in dissolution of marriage varies, depending on a variety of factors. One thing is for certain, the more contested and drawn out a divorce becomes the more both parties will end up paying for it. While the most affordable course of action is simply to file without help, most estranged couples are not able to come to an agreement on all matters nor able to complete the complex divorce court forms without making time-consuming and costly mistakes. This is where divorce mediation plays a role in saving people money.

What is Mediation?

This is the process used to bring two contested parties together to come to a resolution outside of court. Sometimes an outside party is needed in order to reach a joint agreement on a contested matter. Divorce mediation exists to avoid the high cost of adversarial attorneys, court procedures and fees and the time spent waiting to see a judge.

Both parties will submit their paperwork and information ahead of time, agree to meet in a neutral environment, and begin a series of mediation meetings. An impartial third party will be present to facility the discussions and assist the couple into coming to an arrangement on issues such as finances, property, spousal support and child custody. Another added benefit to mediation is that the couple retains control of the settlement instead of handing over the end result to attorneys or a judge.

Why Does it Cost Less?

Divorce mediation costs less because it is far less lengthy and invasive than court-based proceedings. The fewer mediation sessions required, the more money would be saved. Since the process is still in the hands of the couple, the number of mediation sessions and their lengths can be determined ahead of time. This is great for budgeting out how much the meetings will cost.

At the end of the day, the cost of this process will depend entirely on the party’s ability and willingness to work together to come up with an out of court solution. However, it is an established fact that divorce mediation typically saves substantial time and costs, not to mention emotional stress.