How Mediation Is a Healthier Divorce Solution

How Mediation Is a Healthier Divorce Solution

When most people hear the word divorce, they think about fighting it out in court. While it is true that many cases do end up being bitter legal battles, that doesn’t have to be what happens. Many people actually turn to mediation. Mediation is where you and your partner sit together with a professional who helps you through negotiations and discussions to work together to dissolve your marriage. There are many reasons why mediation is actually much healthier alternative.

Mediation Reduces Stress

Yelling, arguing and fighting all raise stress levels. When you are battling a partner over children, finances and assets, rarely does anyone come out the winner in the end. In most cases, you both end up losing because you are both stressed out and suffering from the strain the whole process has taken on you and any children you have. Mediation provides a calm environment in which you can discuss things with a neutral party present to ensure that things don’t get heated. The mediator guides the process so you can resolve things in a mature and rational way.

Mediation Reduces Financial Strain

It is widely known that a divorce can be a costly event. Not only due to child and spousal support issues but also due to the costs for attorneys. When you choose mediation, you don’t need expensive attorneys fighting in court. You both work with one mediator and because you are working together and negotiating, the process usually takes far less time to get through. That means less time taken off work and far fewer fees being racked up.

Mediation Helps Relationships

When you are fighting things out in court, you are letting attorneys do the talking for you. You likely won’t be having civilize conversations with your partner. Things can turn ugly very quickly. This hurts you and your children. When you choose mediation, you choose to work together and to keep fighting out of the whole process. It is a much calmer experience that leaves everyone feeling better about the relationships that will still be there when the divorce is final. After all, just because your marriage is ending doesn’t mean you will never interact again, especially if you have children. It really helps to know that when you see each other again, there won’t be any hard feelings lingering.

Mediation may not work in every situation, but if you have the opportunity to use mediation for your divorce, it can make the whole experience much easier. You will find that you are less stressed over things, spend less money on the whole situation and that your family is still feeling like a family at the end of the process.

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