When you finally decide to end your marriage, you don’t have to turn straight to litigation. There are options that will let you avoid putting the court in charge of decisions like the children’s custody, property division or alimony. Mediation can provide a better alternative when resolving a divorce.
It is not only a cheaper method of handling a divorce, but it’s also less adversarial compared to a contested divorce. In addition, you will have more control over your divorce and not be at the mercy of court proceedings which are public affairs and can take longer to conclude.
Is mediation really the right way to end your divorce?
Mediation sounds like the perfect way of handling a divorce, but it does not always work for everyone. Is your spouse abusive? Do you both prefer an uncontested divorce? Mediation can only work if all the parties are committed to finding resolutions and willing to compromise.
For instance, if there are cases of domestic violence, it can be near impossible to mediate. This is because one spouse may feel like they have unequal bargaining power, which should not be the case.
Equally, if you suspect your spouse of hiding assets, mediation may not be the best way of handling a divorce.
What if mediation doesn’t work out?
If mediation does not work out, you may have to bite the bullet and head to court. Here, a judge will hear and determine how everything will proceed.
However, do not assume things will automatically work for you just because the matter is in court. Know your rights and safeguard them throughout the divorce proceedings to ensure a favorable conclusion.