Mediation is one of the most frequently used methods for negotiating a divorce settlement. In divorce mediation, you and your spouse hire a neutral third party called a mediator. Said mediator would meet with you and your spouse to discuss and resolve the issues in your divorce. Don’t worry about a mediator overstepping their boundaries, as they do not make any decisions for you. The role of a mediator is to facilitate the disagreements that you and your spouse are having and to figure out what’s best for both of you.
Any married couple that is considering divorce should sit through mediation first. Mediation can work for almost any couple and has an extensive list of benefits.
What Are the Benefits of Mediation?
Some of the several benefits of mediation include:
- Mediation is far less expensive than a court trial or a series of hearings.
- Most mediations end in a settlement that pertains to all of the issues you and your spouse are having.
- Mediation is confidential, so you don’t have to worry about any public records of what was said in your sessions.
- It allows you and your spouse to arrive at a solution based on your idea of what is fair in your particular situation. Since the solution is tailored to you and your spouse’s problems, you won’t have to worry about having a solution imposed upon you based on rigid and impersonal legal rulings.
- If you feel like you can still benefit from a personal lawyer, you can still work with one to solicit legal advice.
- The process will be controlled by you and your spouse, not the court.
- You and your spouse will experience improved communication thanks to mediation tactics. Better communication will help you both in avoiding future conflicts.
Will Mediation Be Right for My Relationship?
While most couples see positive results from mediation, this will not be the case for every relationship dynamic. For example, if there is domestic abuse involved in your relationship, you should carefully consider doing mediation. On the other hand, some people who have experienced abuse in their marriage find it empowering to be present in the mediation, as they feel like the playing field is leveled. If you don’t think being present in a mediation session is safe for you, but you’d still like to benefit from it, you can have your lawyer do the negotiating for you.
Both people must be willing to compromise. Don’t reject mediation just because you and your spouse view a particular issue differently. In other words, don’t give up on the mediation process you’ve even begun. Mediation is a powerful process, and many cases that seem almost impossible to resolve in the beginning end up in a successful settlement if all parties involved take it seriously.
Do you think your marriage will benefit from mediation sessions? Utah law requires all couples who are considering a divorce to sit through at least one mediation session as a final effort to solve disputes. Contact The Ault Firm today to work with an experienced mediation attorney.
