If divorce is in the cards, you don’t want to assume that litigation is your only option. There’s always a chance that this could be the end result, but you don’t necessarily want to go down this path.
There are many benefits of divorce mediation, including cost and time savings. With both these things in mind, you may soon realize that it’s the first thing you should try.
Just the same as litigation, it’s natural to have questions about the divorce mediation process. For example, you may not have much knowledge of what to expect along the way.
Fortunately, mediation is straightforward in regard to the process. Consider the following:
- First meeting. During this time, both individuals and the mediator discuss the issues to address and the information to share.
- Additional meetings. Once the groundwork is in place, additional meetings will focus on settling differences. These can be associated with things such as child support, child custody, property division, parenting schedules and alimony.
- The final agreement. After working through all the finer details, the mediator will create an agreement that both parties can review and sign. You have the right to work with a family law attorney, ensuring that you make the right decisions.
Many people assume that divorce mediation eventually leads them to spend time in court, however, this typically isn’t the case. Once both parties sign the final agreement, the mediator files it with the court. As long as everything checks out, no one is expected to attend a court hearing in the future.
While there is no way of knowing how long divorce mediation will take, most find that it’s more time efficient than litigation. Generally speaking, you should expect to partake in several two- to three-hour meditation sessions (typically over the course of one to two months).
Knowing how the divorce mediation process works is half the battle. When you combine this knowledge with a detailed strategy, you’ll find yourself in position to use this to your advantage as you attempt to put your marriage in the past once and for all.