Divorce comes with a lot of difficult decisions. Who keeps the house? How do you schedule custody? What happens to your pets? You have different options available to resolve those big decisions.
If you and your spouse have a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, then the terms you set in the document can guide the divorce process. If you can’t decide how to resolve those issues on your own, you could litigate the divorce, which involves the judge making decisions about custody and property division.
For those who would like an uncontested filing but haven’t been able to work out their issues with their spouse, mediation could be a solution. It offers numerous benefits that make it a good tool for many divorcing couples.
Mediation is confidential
Whether your mediation session results in an agreement or you end up having to litigate your divorce anyways, what you say in your attempt to negotiate with your ex will remain confidential. The same is certainly not true if you were to discuss those same matters in family court.
Mediation lets you retain control over important issues
In a litigated divorce, a judge gets to decide how to split up custody and your property. In many divorces, both spouses wind up dissatisfied with the outcome because the judge simply cannot learn enough about family circumstances to enter a truly nuanced order. When you mediate your divorce, you get to set all of the major terms yourself, so both of you can feel satisfied with the outcome.
Mediation can actually save you money
Litigation is expensive. The more you and your ex fight over issues at your divorce, the more the process will cost you. Although mediation means paying another professional beyond your attorneys, it is often cheaper than a litigated divorce because the amount of time you spend in court will be lower.
Learning more about divorce mediation can help you decide if it is the right solution for your family.