Three Main Benefits of Divorce Mediation

 Posted on September 06, 2018 in Divorce

We all know what happens in a traditional divorce - the husband and wife spend months on end arguing about who gets the house, where the kids will live and how their property will be split between the two. A litigated divorce can be stressful for you, hard on your wallet and traumatizing to the kids. It is important to understand that you do have other options. Divorce mediation is one of those options and has become an increasingly popular route for many divorcing couples because of the multitude of benefits it offers.

What Is Divorce Mediation?

Many people do not actually know what divorce mediation is and therefore, do not know of its benefits. Divorce mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that involves a neutral, third-party - often a lawyer - who helps the couple make decisions about their own divorce. Unlike divorce litigation, there is only one mediator for both spouses, but the key to mediation is that the mediator is not able to advocate for one party over the other. The mediator is simply there to bring light to issues that need to be settled and guide conversations to keep them civil and productive.

You Spend Less Time and Money

Two of the biggest draws to mediation are that it is often less costly than a litigated divorce and you can get it done quicker. With a litigated divorce, you are reliant on the court and their schedule to attend hearings, which often takes several months, if not years, to finalize everything. Each time you attend a court hearing and file paperwork in the court, you are also subject to court fees and lawyer costs, which can add up very quickly. With a mediated divorce, you complete all of your paperwork, sign your divorce agreement and have a parenting plan in place before you even step foot in a courtroom.

You Have More Control Over Your Outcome

Another significant difference between divorce litigation and mediation is that you have much more control over how things are settled if you choose to mediated. When you go to court to settle your disputes, judges are bound to make decisions within certain parameters of the law. If you and your spouse come to an agreement in mediation, it does not necessarily have to coincide with the way a judge would rule but will be just as enforceable.

Contact a Oakland County Divorce Mediation Specialist

Divorce mediation has many benefits over a traditional litigated divorce and might be your ideal solution. If you are beginning your divorce process, you should speak with an experienced Farmington Hills divorce mediation specialist as soon as possible. The attorneys at Elkouri Heath, PLC are skilled in alternative dispute resolution and can help you settle your divorce is a minimally-stressful way. Call the office at 248-344-9700 to set up a consultation.

Sources:

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/publications/the_101_201_practice_series/benefits_of_mediation_in_divorce_cases.html

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/sherri-donovan-esq/celebrate-mediation-day-t_b_1968763.html