What is Divorce Mediation and Is It Right for You?

To many people, “divorce” conjures nightmares of exorbitant legal fees, courtroom visits and intense disputes among the separating partners. But what if there was a better way?

Divorce mediation is a less-costly alternative for couples willing to work together and enter a compromise outside of court. Read on to learn more about how divorce mediation works and if it might be a viable option for you.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is the process of working with a neutral, third-party mediator to negotiate the terms of ending your marriage. Commonly covered areas of interest include property division, child custody and visitation, child support and alimony or spousal support.?

Typically, divorcees go through five to seven meetings with a mediator, depending on the complexity of the case. These include introductory meetings explaining the process, detailed meetings to work through custody and finances, and finally, a meeting where a tentative settlement is drafted and reviewed by the separating partners.

The Benefits of Divorce Mediation

Avoid the Courts (And Public Record)

By choosing divorce mediation, you and your spouse can avoid the high costs of paying for separate legal teams, the inconvenience of court appearances, and the exposure of those court appearances being entered into public court record.

Partners Decide the Outcome

In court-led divorce proceedings, spouses are represented by separate legal teams who each make their case to a judge, or divorce master, and hope the judge sees things their way. Once a judgment is made and entered into the court record, there is no easy way to take a step back or continue negotiations with your former spouse. It is possible that no one ends up happy as a result.

On the other hand, while divorce mediation can take considerable communication and negotiation, the process should conclude with both parties feeling in control of the outcome. The mediator cannot force either party to accept the terms of an agreement.

Speed and Cost Savings

Depending on many factors at play, such as the size of the marital estate and if children are involved, the average divorce through the Pennsylvania court system typically takes around two years.

Divorce mediation is often a much faster process. At Jordan Financial Consulting and Coaching, we have found the average mediation process takes between 3-6 months, based on the time it takes to gather financial and estate documents, receive appraisals on property and work through child custody plans.

Will Mediation Work for Me?

Several key factors will determine if divorce mediation is the best direction for you and your spouse.

You are Separating on Good Terms

Contrary to what we see so often in the media, many marriages end not with a bang, but with a whisper. Most times, divorces are years in the making as partners grow apart and realize staying together is not the best choice for either party. In these cases, a mediator may be the least painful and quickest way to a resolution.

You Are Willing to Negotiate and Communicate

It is critically important for both spouses to be willing to meet at the negotiating table and be flexible in their demands. Oftentimes, lack of communication skills trigger incidents that cause many couples to fall apart. The mediation process can help mend some of those tears and help couples learn to communicate once again. This benefit is felt most strongly by couples who will have shared custody of children.

Taking the Next Step

Jordan Financial’s professional mediation services can help you and your spouse reach a mutual agreement. When we serve as your mediator, your final product will be a jointly negotiated Memorandum of Understanding. We can save you time and the costly fees of a prolonged court battle.

Contact us today for a free phone consultation to learn how our divorce mediation services can help you.