Divorce Mediation - Is it the Right Choice for You?

OK, so it’s not the most popular topic to discuss. Divorce has traditionally been associated with hostility, custody battles, financial ruin and mental exhaustion… why? Because when you think “divorce”, you think “fight”.  

Divorce is difficult. Hard choices need to be made. That does not necessarily mean that it has to adversarial or costly as well! Today, mixed families, foster families, single-parent and “step” families are becoming the norm, wouldn’t it benefit everyone to take a breath and try to work through their own situations?

Divorce doesn’t have to be the nasty, petty war it is made out to be. In fact, because divorce is becoming, regrettably, more common, people are choosing to make their own decisions and draw up their own agreements. Courts are perfect for those who need a decision made for them. The guidelines that judges must adhere to, applied to the separating couple of today, usually end up crippling one or both parties financially, emotionally or both.

In mediated agreements, individuals can come up with whatever terms they want resulting in a much more amicable, cost effective result! I like to call it the “win-win” option.

Divorce Mediation is a collaborative approach in assisting both parties in coming to a fair and equitable agreement, based on their individual circumstances. In fact, mediated agreements are more successful than litigated ones because both parties are willing participants and not forced to be there.

Some other advantages to mediation are:

• Mediation sessions are conducted in a private, neutral setting.
• It is a non-adversarial  approach to conflict solution.
• It is a FRACTION of the cost of litigation.
• It is client driven as opposed to court driven.
• A mediator works for both parties.

Situations where mediation is not appropriate are in cases of spousal abuse, child abuse or neglect, mental impairment of an individual or in cases where the divorcing party is unable to sit together and talk rationally about their situation- ever!