Divorce Mediation: How It Can Benefit Couples That Are Separating

Divorce is a very emotional and stressful time for everyone that is involved, and it can be incredibly difficult to make decisions that affect your children, spousal support, and property division. While going to trial can be long and costly, mediation is designed to be a cheaper and less stressful alternative. Here is what you should know about divorce mediation and the benefits it can provide.

What Exactly Is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is when you bring in a mediator that acts as a neutral third party. They will help you and your spouse come to an agreement regarding the terms of your divorce. The mediator can help by essentially being the middleman that communicates between both sides or helps facilitate a discussion. Mediators can be used to handle all aspects of a divorce, including the tough decisions that often go to trial. 

Why Should You Use Divorce Mediation? 

A huge benefit of using divorce mediation is to make the process less stressful. You can actually work together with your spouse to come to an agreement on the terms of the divorce, rather than leaving it in the hands of a judge. Once you decide to end the mediation process, the remaining decisions will be made during a trial where a judge decides the final outcome. If you are not comfortable with letting a judge make those big decisions, then make them in mediation where you still have some control over the outcome. 

How Does Divorce Mediation Work? 

You'll have multiple sessions with a mediator, which is when they'll help identify the key issues that you need to work out as part of a divorce. Every mediator has their own techniques to handle this complex conversation, but it may start with getting the simple issues out of the way so that you can focus on the big ones. 

Mediation basically means talking it out, and sometimes you need that neutral party to help lead the discussion and get you to talk about the things that are important. A mediator may set an agenda for the day with a goal that you are trying to reach to keep you on task. They may also stay in the same room to facilitate an in-person discussion or to separate the two of you so that you do not have to directly interact with your spouse. 

Reach out to a divorce lawyer for more information about their mediation services.