If you’re like most people going through a divorce, you hope to get through the process as quickly and easily as possible — and mediation can be a wonderful opportunity. However, there are some things you need to keep in mind if you want your mediation to be successful:
1. Choose your mediator carefully
You need to ask some questions before you settle on a mediator. For example:
- What is the mediator’s educational background?
- Does he or she have prior mediation experience?
- Is he or she familiar with the American Bar Association Standards?
You need to be sure that your chosen mediator has the skill to actually be effective.
2. Avoid direct communication with the other party
Even if things are going well in negotiations and you think that you’ve now reached a place where you’re emotionally and mentally ready for a one-on-one conversation with your divorcing spouse, don’t try it. Direct communication between the spouses can derail an otherwise successful start to mediation. Stay away from texting, email and phone calls with your spouse until your attorney gives you the go-ahead.
3. Listen and be reasonable
You want to be heard when you walk into mediation. In turn, however, you need to make sure you also do plenty of listening. Recognize that you aren’t going to get everything you want (or you wouldn’t need mediation), so be prepared to give a little in order to get a little. Take your attorney’s advice to heart before you make any hard and fast decisions.
Divorce mediation doesn’t guarantee perfect results — but it can give you more control over your future than a litigated divorce. If you’d like to consider this option, learn more about the process today.
