It’s a common belief that litigation is the only way to work through the divorce process. While this may be the only option for some couples, such as those who are unable to get along on any level, it’s not the only strategy to consider.
For many, divorce mediation is the right answer. There are still challenges to work through, but it’s much less stressful than litigation.
There are many advantages of divorce mediation, including but not limited to the following:
— A mediator is available to facilitate the conversation, helping to move the process forward a little bit at a time. Furthermore, this person does not act as a judge, meaning he or she does not have the power to make final decisions.
— Time efficient. Are you hoping to put your divorce in the past as soon as possible? This is yet another reason to turn your attention to divorce mediation. When compared to litigation, it’s much more time efficient.
— More affordable. There is no way of knowing how long your mediation will take, but it’s typically cheaper than litigation. For most, this is a big deal.
— More control. One of the biggest problems with litigation is that you lose some of your control, as the judge is responsible for making final decisions. With divorce mediation, you and your former spouse work together to reach a settlement.
Along with the above, there is one more point worth noting: Divorce mediation can be easier on any children that you have with your spouse. As you know, there is nothing more important than that.
Although divorce mediation is different than litigation in many ways, you still have the opportunity to work closely with a family law attorney. Doing so will allow you to feel better about the decisions you are making. This also puts you in position to have all your questions answered before you agree to something that will impact you now and potentially in the future.
If nothing else, it makes sense to learn more about divorce mediation and to give this a try before heading to court.