As you inch toward the divorce process, it’s natural to have concerns about how everything will play out. You know this is a big change to your life, and you don’t want to do anything that will put you in a worse situation.
Although mediation is full of its own challenges, many divorcing couples find that it’s much better than litigation. With this approach, you can ease the tension of your divorce, all the while reaching the finish line in a timely manner.
How does a mediator help?
A divorce mediator is not the same as a judge, as this person doesn’t have the power to make any final decisions.
Instead, you can expect the mediator to listen to all concerns, push the conversation forward and ensure that both individuals keep an open line of communication.
You can’t expect the mediator to make decisions on your behalf, but this person is definitely available to help every step of the way.
What does mediation entail?
No two mediation sessions are identical, but there are some things you should expect during the process:
First meeting: This is when you identify all issues that need resolved, such as those involving child custody, child support and property division. Don’t hesitate to bring everything to light, as the mediator must understand what needs figured out.
Subsequent meetings: Once the first meeting is out of the way, it’s time to get down to business. These meetings are when you and the other parent discuss the issues at hand and work toward a resolution on all fronts.
If you’re able to reach an agreement on all issues, the mediator will draft an agreement that you can review along with your legal team.
From there, your mediator may be able to file the papers with the court, meaning that you don’t have to personally do anything else.
There is no way of knowing how long mediation will last, but you should expect to partake in several sessions that last somewhere in the range of two hours.
You can’t expect divorce mediation to alleviate all the tension and stress, but you can definitely lean on this process to help you through one of the most difficult times of your life.