On the surface, you may assume that divorce mediation is nothing more than a waste of time. You’re not getting along with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, and for that reason you have concerns about working through the mediation process in an efficient manner.
Before you look down on divorce mediation, it’s important to understand the benefits. Here’s what you need to know:
- More control over the process: With litigation, the family law judge presiding over your case has control over everything that happens. But with divorce mediation, you and your spouse are in charge. The mediator is available to keep things moving in the right direction, but they don’t have the power to make legal decisions.
- Time-efficient: You want to put your marriage in the past as soon as possible. This allows you to rebuild your life sooner rather than later. Divorce mediation is often more time efficient, as you don’t have to wait an extended period of time for your court date to arrive. Not to mention the fact that you have the ability to negotiate and compromise without the intervention of a judge.
- Opportunity to save money: This doesn’t always happen, but it’s something to at least consider. With divorce mediation, you can save money as the process doesn’t take as long to unfold.
- Less stress: Mediation is more laid back than litigation. This doesn’t mean the process is stress-free, but you’ll definitely feel better about what you’re up against. With less stress, it’s easier to keep your cool and make informed decisions.
Along with the above, keep in mind that you can still consult with an attorney as you move through divorce mediation. This allows you to have an experienced legal professional on your side to answer your questions, provide guidance and ensure that you don’t make any costly mistakes.
With so many benefits of divorce mediation, you should do whatever you can to make it work. Even if your spouse isn’t making life easy on you, it’s possible to work through all your differences in mediation. And when that happens, you’ll end up feeling better about the way the process played out.