If you and your spouse have decided to part ways, you probably have deep worries about how divorce will impact both your children and your finances. If you go to court, you could be facing a long, expensive and stressful legal process with an uncertain outcome.
However, a legal battle is not your only option. Under mediation, you and your future ex may be able to negotiate the terms of your divorce outside of court.
How does mediation work?
Divorce mediation generally involves a series of private sessions between you, your spouse and a neutral mediator. During these sessions, your mediator helps you communicate your concerns effectively, identify issues that need resolving and find solutions that work for you both.
What types of issues can mediation address?
Mediation allows you and your future ex to make your own negotiated decisions about child custody and visitation arrangements, support payments, property division and more. While your mediator may offer suggestions, you and your spouse have the final word on the terms of your divorce agreement.
What are some benefits of mediation?
Advantages of mediation may include:
- Minimizing legal costs
- Moving forward at your own pace
- Building a good working relationship with your ex
- Prioritizing your children’s well-being
- Avoiding a public court process
Perhaps the biggest benefit of mediation is that it keeps your future in your own hands. While a family law judge will try to make decisions that are fair, the outcome may not be what either of you would have chosen. Mediation offers you the chance to weigh your options carefully and make plans that truly work for your family.