3 Unique Benefits Of Mediating A Divorce

When you and your spouse decide to get divorced, it will be one of the most stressful periods in your life. Since many decisions will be made regarding the division of assets, child custody, spousal and child support payments, and other decisions as well, it’s important that you choose an approach that will make you comfortable and give you as much decision-making control as possible. While you could choose to go to court, choosing instead to use mediation may benefit you in more ways than you ever imagined. In fact, here are three unique benefits you can gain by mediating your divorce.

1- Saving You Money

When you begin the process of getting divorced, you are naturally concerned about how much it will cost to hire lawyers and pay other expenses associated with the process. However, by choosing mediation, you can save money as well as stress. As an example, a typical divorce case that is litigated from start to finish may cost in excess of $10,000. However, many divorces can be mediated for only a fraction of that cost, often costing between $1,000-$3,000. Along with being a practical decision, this can help your finances in the long run, especially if you will be paying spousal and child support.

2- Taking Control of Decision-Making

When you have your divorce litigated in the courts, much of the decision-making process is taken out of your hands. Instead, a judge usually has the final say in many key areas, such as custody of children, which spouse gets certain assets, and how much child or spousal support will be paid on a monthly basis. If you decide to mediate you divorce, both you and your spouse will retain decision-making control from start to finish. Although both parties can still have their lawyers present during mediation sessions to advise them and answer questions, you and your spouse will ultimately have the last word on major decisions pertaining to the divorce.

3- Retaining Privacy and Confidentiality

Unfortunately, many couples who get divorced fail to realize that by litigating their divorce in court, their parting of the ways becomes a matter of public record. Thus, if you choose to do your divorce in this manner, anyone and everyone can find out every single detail of your divorce. If you would prefer to keep the details of your divorce private and confidential from the rest of the world, mediation is the perfect way to make that happen. Once you decide to use mediation in order to maintain privacy and confidentiality, you will know only you, your spouse, and your lawyers will know the exact details of your divorce. Along with never having to step inside a courtroom, most states have laws in place that protect divorce mediation confidentiality. Thus, all disclosures made in mediation sessions, draft agreements, and written and verbal communications among parties are kept private from the rest of the world.

Should you desire to maintain privacy during your divorce, retain control over key financial and custody decisions, save money, and put yourself through far less stress along the way, mediation can be a perfect solution to a tough problem. By working with experienced divorce mediators and consulting your attorney for advice along the way, you can emerge from your divorce ready to move forward with your life.

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