Mediation vs. Litigation in Divorce: A (Very Simplified) List of Pros and Cons
Divorce in 2016: A New Year, a New Life
How does mediation work?
When two spouses are unable to come to an agreement about their divorce settlement, mediation is one option that could help them. In Colorado, the parties often agree to mediation voluntarily. The mediator may or may not be a lawyer, so the fees vary for every case and could be an hourly or daily charge. The mediator helps the spouses explore the options available to them so that they may resolve their dispute. Rather than say that one spouse is right and the other is wrong, the mediator helps them find a solution that works for their specific situation.
Benefits of mediation in divorce proceedings
Divorcing couples in Colorado may hope to avoid lengthy and expensive litigation. While ending a marriage often places a great emotional strain on the spouses involved, our attorneys may be able to provide options that allow the process to be a more amicable and less combative experience. You may wish to consider these alternative dispute resolution methods if you are raising children and hope to maintain a civil relationship with your former spouse.
Mediation can help families cope with divorce
Divorcing Denver couples probably expect that they will need to cope with a number of legal matters such as child support, child custody, property division and alimony. What they may not consider are the long-term consequences of failing to resolve the emotional stress of a divorce. If these issues are not addressed properly, divorcees can begin to take out their frustrations on friends and family members. For some, divorce mediation can be an effective way of working through these emotional issues in a healthy manner.
By relieving guilt and anger, mediation can produce resolution
Even with the best of intentions, Jefferson County couples can quickly become mired in bitter emotional reactions when engaging in divorce proceedings. This can cause an already stressful situation to escalate, and prevent constructive conversations and negotiations. While court proceedings can be the solution for some couples, many find divorce mediation to be a more productive alternative, in part because it helps to bring emotional resolution to both spouses.
Divorce mediation doesn't always go smoothly
Even in the most amicable of divorces, Denver couples can often find it hard to get down to the nitty-gritty of creating a mutually-acceptable divorce settlement. Some feel intimidated when it comes time to discuss their desires, while others allow outside influences to get in the way. For those couples who truly want to keep their divorce away from litigation, trying divorce mediation is a good option.
Mediation can often make a divorce less stressful on children
Divorce can be exceptionally hard on children, especially if the breakups are bitter. They often devastate the lives of young ones in a way that may have a profound effect on them for the rest of their lives. However, for many Jefferson County couples, divorce is the only road toward true happiness. A recently published article named divorce mediation as one of the best ways for couples to protect their children from harm while being freed from an unfixable relationship.
Experts can help divorce mediation run smoother
Even uncontested divorces in Jefferson County aren’t necessarily easy when it comes to deciding the terms of the divorce agreement. From child custody to property division, couples must decide important, life-changing decisions. As such, many couples turn to divorce mediation to help them more affably navigate the process.
Preparing prior to divorce mediation can help the process along
Divorce can be strenuous and costly. For that reason, many Jefferson County couples are turning to divorce mediation in order to save money and have more control over the outcome of issues involving child custody, spousal support and child support.
