Often, when people envision the divorce process, they see a hotly contested legal battle with two expensive lawyers in a big courtroom and an intimidating judge that wields the power to control their finances, their lives, and even the lives of their children. The truth is, most cases, even those that involve litigation, do not need to be the knock-down, drag-out brawls that people fear.
Many parents are unaware that there are healthier ways to divorce. Oftentimes spouses are on civil terms when they decide to divorce. When otherwise civil spouses choose the litigated divorce the process ends up driving a wedge between them. This can be extremely damaging to their co-parenting relationship and cause emotional harm to the children – who are often caught in the middle.
Divorce mediation is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (commonly referred to as ADR) wherein parties meet together with a profession mediator for a number of sessions, and the mediator guides the parties towards an agreement on the issues of their divorce, from the marital residence and credit card debt to spousal support, child support, and custody.
The mediation process is often a less expensive and potentially less stressful alternative to litigation that allows people to maintain control and actively participate in creating the final terms of their divorce settlement. While mediation may not be for everyone, it can be an effective way for you and your spouse to dissolve your marriage and redefine the paradigm of the family.