What are the benefits of divorce mediation?
Through divorce mediation, you and your spouse privately work through your differences and make decisions about your present and future needs. Generally, this process facilitates communication, promotes cooperation, reduces tension, and makes the inevitable separation easier. Divorce mediation is also a cost-effective alternative to traditional divorce litigation.
Through divorce mediation, you and your spouse privately work through your differences and make decisions about your present and future needs. Generally, this process facilitates communication, promotes cooperation, reduces tension, and makes the inevitable separation easier. Divorce mediation is also a cost-effective alternative to traditional divorce litigation.
→ Divorce mediation provides a safe environment in which to explore options and resolve issues. By establishing an emotionally supportive environment, mediation allows individuals to explore different options and to make personal decisions about the marital settlement. A mediator helps spouses communicate more effectively with one another. Mediation also allows divorcing couples to explore more creative solutions that take their unique values and circumstances into account. → Divorce mediation minimizes cost and time. Mediation costs less money, because it avoids the high attorneys’ fees and costs associated with traditional court divorces. Couples also save money by retaining joint experts. A court divorce can take years to resolve, a mediated divorce can be completed within six months. While each case varies, on average, the parties meet with the mediator for three to six sessions.
The major benefit of divorce mediation is a reduction in the potential legal costs often incurred in a contentious, time-consuming divorce proceeding. When the two parties seeking a divorce are open to mediation and approach the process in a respectful and constructive manner, the mediator can most often complete the process within a two week period. The shorter time frame also has the benefit of reducing the stress on each party that often accompanies a divorce proceeding. WHAT ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED IN MEDIATION? Most often, the mediator will work with the couple to address the following issues: • division of personal property • automobiles • retirement accounts • bank accounts/stocks/other assets • credit cards • division of real property • alimony • parental responsibility for any children, including provision for any special needs.
