Collaborative law arose as a way to bring ex-spouses together. Study after study has shown that it is healthier for divorced couples to leave one another on amicable terms. Divorce mediation is one of those tools designed to enable this to happen. However, it isn?t for everyone. Both of you need to want divorce mediation to work. That means both of you need to be comfortable with your mediator and the process. Here are a few tips to guide you through the process.
First and foremost, find someone that you trust. This process will never work unless you both are willing to tell the mediator what needs to be said to keep the process healthy and moving forward.
Second, ask them about their professional publications and contacts. You want evidence that they are invested in mediation as a profession. There are many organizations that train and certify mediators, so ask them about their credentials. Ask about their speaking engagements or publications. The more they contribute to the profession, the more you can see their dedication to mediation.
Third, there are mediators for all sorts of conflicts and disputes from contracts to trademarks. Every time there is a dispute, you can be assured that there is a mediator. Don?t hire just any mediator. You want someone with a focus on family law and divorce matters. Ideally, you want someone who is 100 percent focused on family law. Divorce is a sensitive subject that requires a practiced touch to manage properly.
Finally, ask them about their education. They should have extensive training and education in dispute resolution techniques. Just because someone is a therapist or a lawyer doesn’t mean that they know how to resolve a dispute. You need someone with formal training.
Divorce is one of the most emotionally-trying experiences you will ever go through. The longer your marriage, the more difficult the separation can be. There are a host of problems you will need to confront, from dividing retirement to dividing cookware, any of one them could set off an emotional trigger. If you are considering divorce, then think about mediation first. It is a good way to save some money and keep you on good terms with your ex-partner. That makes the entire separation process easier.
