Divorce mediation is a rapidly growing method of resolving legal disputes between spouses. Just about every court system and bar association in the country is now promoting mediation as a highly effective means of handling the delicate process of divorce.
Am I a Candidate for Mediation?
Divorce mediation works best if:
- You want to enable your children to have as smooth a transition as possible
- You value staying on good terms with your spouse
- The decision to divorce is mutual or mutually accepted
- Both parties fully understand the financial situation or are willing to try
- You generally trust your spouse to be honest, and vice versa
- You are not easily intimidated by your spouse
- There is no history of violence or abuse in the relationship
Benefits of Mediation
Successful mediation will produce a better divorce agreement, better custody and parenting arrangements, a more harmonious relationship between spouses after the divorce, and a smoother transition for children who are dealing with a traumatic event in their lives.
A skilled mediator can help both parties work together to craft an agreement that is in both of their best interests. When a divorce is resolved through litigation, all decisions are made by a judge. By nature, the judge is a stranger who cannot possibly understand all the nuances of the issues involved or be able to determine what is in the best interests of both parties from a few hours of testimony. His or her job is to make a decision based on the laws set in place to govern the procedure.
By opting for mediation, you are able to take control of the outcome of your divorce. You and your spouse are the two people who know and understand the issues involved the best, and you are the two people who understand what is truly in your best interests. A skillful mediator will create a collaborative atmosphere conducive to resolving disputes, as opposed to the adversarial atmosphere typically found in a divorce proceeding.
Mediation allows for a creative agreement that accommodates the hectic schedules of both spouses and their children so that the transition to being newly divorced is as easy as possible. The process fosters communication and cooperation, which will improve interactions after the divorce is finalized. This is especially important when children are involved.
Since the process is cooperative and not adversarial, it generally takes much less time than a divorce that goes to litigation. It will also cost considerably less, since you are saving money on court and lawyer fees that pile up quickly in a bitterly contested divorce.
Jacoby & Meyers Can Help
The mediators at Jacoby & Meyers are highly trained and certified, and have met all state requirements for mediation. Our goal is to help you and your spouse reach an agreement that benefits all parties involved, so that you can start moving on with your lives. We will work with you to improve lines of communication so that disputes can be resolved peacefully.
Please contact our mediation attorneys today to schedule a consultation. Jacoby & Meyers has offices throughout the U.S.