How Do I Know if Mediation Is the Right Choice for My Divorce?

 Posted on June 19, 2023 in Divorce

The divorce process is not easy, but there are options available that can help you minimize conflict with your spouse, reach agreements that will be acceptable to both of you, and ensure that you will be able to move on successfully after the end of your marriage. Mediation is often a more peaceful and cost-effective option for resolving divorce-related issues and creating a settlement. By working together with a neutral mediator, you and your spouse may be able to resolve your differences more quickly and efficiently, while also coming up with creative solutions that will allow you to cooperate with each other in the future.

However, mediation is not always the best method for addressing divorce-related concerns, so you will need to understand what approach will be best for your individual situation. By considering the following questions, you can determine whether mediation is right for you:

Are You Willing to Compromise?

Mediation will require you to work together with your spouse to address important issues such as property division and child custody. If you and your spouse are not willing to meet each other halfway, or if one of you refuses to compromise, then mediation may not be the right choice for your divorce. However, if both of you are ready to negotiate and are willing to give and take, then mediation can help you resolve the issues you will need to address and come up with solutions that will be beneficial for both of you.

Are You Prepared to Be Honest and Transparent?

Mediation requires both spouses to be open and honest with each other about the issues that will need to be addressed. Specifically, you will need to address issues related to your family's finances, including your assets, debts, and incomes. If one of you is not forthcoming with information or tries to hide assets, then mediation may not be effective. Trust is essential in mediation, and both spouses need to be honest and willing to approach negotiations in good faith.

Do You Need to Address Complex Financial Issues?

If your divorce involves complicated financial concerns such as valuable assets, multiple real estate properties, ownership of a family business, or investments, it may not be possible to resolve these issues with the assistance of a mediator. To ensure that financial issues will be addressed correctly, you may need to employ financial professionals such as appraisers or accountants. If you will be unable to reach agreements on how to handle certain financial decisions, these matters may need to be resolved in court rather than through mediation.

Do You Want to Maintain Control of the Outcome of Your Divorce?

In traditional divorce litigation, a judge decides the outcome of a case, and both parties will be required to abide by these decisions. This can leave both spouses feeling unsatisfied, and they may be bound to terms that will not benefit them going forward. With mediation, you and your spouse will have control over the outcome of your case. You can work together to create a settlement that works best for both of you. Mediation will often lead to more satisfactory and sustainable results than a court-ordered divorce judgment.

Do You Want to Save Time and Money?

Divorce can be a time-consuming and expensive process, especially when a case is litigated in court. Mediation, on the other hand, is often less costly, since you and your spouse can share the costs of a mediator. You may also be able to create a settlement in a shorter timeframe, allowing you to complete the divorce process and move forward into the next phase of your life. If you and your spouse are looking to save time and minimize costs, then mediation may be the right choice for you.

Contact Our DuPage County Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Mediation can be an effective way to resolve divorce-related disputes, and it may help reduce stress, encourage cooperation, and save time and money. At Farooqi & Husain Law Office, our Oakbrook Terrace divorce mediation attorneys work with spouses to negotiate settlements and resolve disputes, ensuring that they can dissolve their marriages successfully. To learn more about our mediation services or how we can help you protect your interests as you negotiate a divorce settlement, contact us at 630-909-9114.

Sources:

https://www.brides.com/what-is-divorce-mediation-and-how-does-it-work-1103259

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefflanders/2012/04/24/the-four-divorce-alternatives/#131a27db20ae