Here’s a list of reasons why I encourage my clients to take advantage of divorce mediation instead of litigation:
1. You stay in the driver’s seat – In mediation, you and your spouse make all the decisions. Instead of handing your divorce over to the court system and turning each and every discussion into a battle, you can control the situation.
2. No one fuels the fire – Things can get very heated when opposing parties go to court. Oftentimes, spouses will communicate through their attorneys instead of talking to each other directly. This can cause conflict to spiral out of control. Divorce mediation can negate any issues caused by distorted messages because you and your spouse communicate face-to-face throughout the entire process. The neutral 3rd party that assists you with the mediation process should be trained to help minimize conflict and help each of you stay focused.
3. It never hurts to try – There’s really nothing to lose when it comes to mediation, so why not give it a try? Even if you and your spouse end up going to court, the two of you will already have shared and discussed all of the issues within your divorce. Therefore, once the two of you finally get into the courtroom, you’ll know exactly what needs to be solved. Much less time will be wasted going back and forth with your attorneys, which will make the litigation process much more efficient.
4. You won’t have to break the bank – When all is said and done, regardless of whether or not you and your spouse are able to resolve your divorce during mediation, the mediation process is a much cheaper alternative to litigation.
5. Less future conflicts – Because you and your spouse get to take control during the mediation process, the two of you understand the reasons behind the decisions that were made. When both of you get to play a major role in the decision making process, the two of you are much more likely to stick to the terms of your divorce in the future.
While each divorce is different, mediation is a process that can be tailored to fit different situations. This makes mediation a constructive and effective process, as you can your spouse get to figure out what’s best for both of you. For more information about divorce mediation, please feel free to contact myself, Mesa AZ mediation attorney Tim Durkin at (480)-464-1111. I’ve assisted numerous individuals with the divorce mediation process, and can assess your case during a confidential family law consultation.