Divorce mediation is a process designed to provide a less adversarial dissolution of marriage than traditional litigation. In effect, when couples mediate, they work together toward achieving mutually beneficial results on significant issues of contention, like asset division, child custody, and financial support.
Today’s guide is designed to help readers understand what to expect from the process, as well as to offer a few simple suggestions for improving the likelihood of a satisfactory outcome. And for a more hands-on assessment of your situation, Safdar Law & Mediation Group handles divorce cases & mediation.
Understand the Mediation Process
Understanding how mediation works is crucial before attending the actual sessions. Mediation is a negotiated settlement, and a neutral third party – the mediator, assists both spouses in reaching effective negotiations. Mediation is different from court in many ways in that it:
- Is confidential
- Is far less adversarial
- Is much more “voluntary” (in the sense that both spouses have to agree to it, and one can retreat from it)
- Is much more focused on helping the pair reach some kind of workable arrangement that both can live with
Gather and Organize Financial Documents
It is essential to have financial transparency for a fair resolution. Compile all monetary records that matter: bank statements, tax returns, pay stubs, investment accounts, property valuations, retirement accounts, and debts.
If these documents are readily available, the parties can discuss matters in a productive way and make wise decisions about what to do with the marital assets moving forward. Safdar Law & Mediation Group handles divorce cases & mediation and can help clients gather and organize these records.
Identify Your Goals and Priorities
Prior to mediation, use some of your preparation time to assess your non-negotiable items and areas where you might be willing to bend a little in order to make a deal. Think through and rank in your mind, or better yet, on paper – your top priorities regarding not just asset division, but also child custody arrangements, spousal support, and any other large items that are on the agenda or that might come up during your negotiations.
Consider the Needs of Your Children
When children are involved, their welfare has to be the number one priority. Consider their needs and the kind of custody and visitation arrangement that puts their interests first. You will need to talk about co-parenting and how both parents can work together to put the child (or children) at the center of their decisions.
Maintain Realistic Expectations
Mediation is not about winning and losing, but about reaching fair and sensible arrangements. If you come into the process with realistic expectations, you will be less likely to feel frustration and more likely to feel inclined to cooperate.
Remember that a settlement generally reached in mediation leads to a more amicable and economically sensible resolution than a protracted court fight.
If Your Marriage Has Reached this Point, Safdar Law & Mediation Group Handles Divorce Cases & Mediation
You and your spouse can increase the chances of reaching a fair and sustainable agreement in divorce mediation if you prepare thoroughly for the process. That involves not only getting your personal and financial details organized, but also thinking carefully about your preferred outcomes and being willing to consider compromises, especially for the sake of a peaceful co-existence following divorce.
