About Mediation

How Mediation Can Resolve Divorce Issues Successfully

Increasing numbers of people are working to avoid the stress and strain of a contentious court room divorce in favor of a more collaborative approach. Even if you and your former spouse haven't fully worked out all the issues between you, you can still avoid the time and expense of a contested divorce by working with a divorce attorney who is experienced in the process of mediation. When you meet for mediation, your attorney will act as a neutral third party and will not be providing representation to either side. The mediator works to facilitate discussion as well as provide legal guidance.

Mediation can be started prior to a divorce in order to complete a Marriage Settlement Agreement, or even after a divorce if any conflict arises about the Marital Settlement Agreement. The purpose of mediation is to make it possible for you and your ex-spouse to work out agreements on all the major questions involved in a divorce in a safe and cooperative environment. Your attorney can help you explore solutions for child custody & visitation, including workable schedules for joint custody. Mediation also works as an effective venue for asset division and debt division, so that you and your former spouse can establish an equitable arrangement.

Advantages of Mediation

One of the greatest advantages of the mediation process is that it is non-binding. The parties are allowed to remain in control throughout the entirety of the process, and it is overall a more cost-effective way to dissolve a marriage. Trials can be expensive, and a judge or jury is often limited in making an award of monetary damages to one spouse or the other. Statistics show that mediation is a very effective method at resolving disputes, and 80% of the parties who choose mediation reach a complete resolution.