How can mediation help me with my divorce?

While it may not be the future you envisioned, divorce can be the right choice for starting a new and positive chapter. You may know friends or family who went through messy and expensive divorces, but that does not need to be the case for you.

Mediation can help couples who are ready to part ways settle their divorce without the added stress and expense of litigation. Depending on your situation, mediation can give you and your ex a way to end your marriage on your terms.

Here’s what you should know about divorce mediation and how it could support you through your divorce.

How does mediation work?

Mediation is an alternative solution to support divorcing couples who want a collaborative approach to their divorce. Instead of going to court, a third-party mediator helps both parties reach an agreement for the different aspects of their divorce, including:

• Child support
• Asset division
• Child custody

Mediation is especially helpful for couples who want to reduce conflict and cost as they move forward with their divorce. In addition to saving court costs, mediation often takes far less time than trying to schedule multiple court dates.

Whose side is the mediator on?

During mediation, you have a third-party guiding the discussion and divorce process. The mediator has no vested interest in the outcome of the divorce, so they are not on either person’s side.

The mediator’s goal is to help you navigate your divorce quickly and privately. Rather than a court case that could become public knowledge, mediation is private. The mediator destroys any notes once the process is over.

Divorce may not be what you had planned, but using mediation as a bridge through the process can make divorce more peaceful for you, your ex and your children.