If you are like many Americans facing divorce, you may have deep concerns about how your separation will impact your future financial and emotional health, especially if you share children. You may worry that the divorce process itself will be financially and emotionally draining and that a judge will have the final word on important decisions about your future.
However, litigation is not your only option. If you and your spouse can agree to prioritize an efficient, reasonably amicable separation, divorce mediation may offer a healthier alternative.
What is divorce mediation?
During divorce mediation, you and your spouse may hire your own attorney. However, both sides agree to settle issues outside of court with the help of a third-party mediator. This mediator can help you and your future ex to communicate effectively and maintain a problem-solving attitude.
What are the benefits of mediated divorce?
A mediated divorce may help avoid steep legal fees as well as the strict schedules and deadlines involved in litigation. In addition to giving you and your spouse the time you need to consider your options carefully, mediation benefits may include:
- Minimizing emotional impact on children
- Fostering a working relationship with your future ex
- Maintaining control over divorce outcomes
- Resolving issues in a private setting
Most importantly, under mediation, you and your spouse may be able to find creative, mutually agreeable solutions to decisions ranging from asset division to child custody and support.
Is mediation right for you?
To be successful, divorce mediation requires that both you and your future ex are willing to communicate and compromise. However, if you can agree to approach your divorce with pragmatism instead of antagonism, mediation may help you and your family navigate a better path forward.