Divorce Mediation: Another Option

When a couple wants a divorce without going through the process of hiring attorneys and taking the issue to court, they may opt for divorce mediation instead. During mediation, the couple and the mediator discuss property distribution, child custody, child support and financial issues, among other concerns. If the couple has children, divorce mediation is often helpful in guiding the spouses to cooperate with one another and thereby help their children through the divorce process. Divorce can be stressful for the children involved, and a mediator can help the ordeal be less difficult by helping the spouses communicate efficiently.

Unlike a divorce which is taken to court, divorce mediation is private. The information discussed during mediation meetings is not disclosed to any outside parties. The mediation process does not have a set time; it continues for as long as the couple pursues it. The length of the meetings is not fixed. On the contrary, it lasts until the spouses reach agreement. Generally, the couple and the mediator do not need more than 10 meetings. However, they may have more if the couple so desires.

Understanding the Role of a Mediator

The mediator is there to help the couple talk through issues rationally and logically. If both spouses are willing to cooperate, the mediator may simply help generate ideas and solutions. However, if the couple has difficulty communicating, the solution may not be so simple. The mediator is never allowed, under any circumstances, to defend one party over the other. Instead, they keep the couple focused on the issue at hand. Sometimes divorcing couples cannot communicate successfully due to past problems. In those situations, the mediator prompts the communication and provides insight into how the couple should go through with their divorce.

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