Considering hiring a mediator to assist you during your divorce? There are certain tasks mediators can do—and some believe they can, but do not. In general, a divorce mediator is unable to provide you with advice. However, they can help you think everything through.
The first thing to keep in mind is that mediation is not a form of therapy.
And the reason you won't receive advice from a mediator is that they are supposed to remain neutral. What they can do is tell you how events are likely to play out, and what the laws are. A mediator's goal is to help two parties reach an agreement and achieve the best outcomes possible. If you and your spouse disagree on how assets should be divided, for example, a divorce mediator will use conflict resolution techniques to improve communication between the two of you, minimizing stress. They can also lay out potential solutions to conflicts.
How hiring a divorce mediator can benefit you
Hiring a mediator during your divorce can be advantageous for several reasons. Here, we highlight some of the primary benefits.
Lower costs
Divorce mediation costs considerably less than going to divorce court.
Improved communication
The mediation process facilitates better communication between you and your spouse, which keeps additional conflicts at bay.
Control
Instead of the court controlling the process, you and your spouse stay in the driver's seat as you negotiate your settlement.
Confidentiality
Everything that occurs in mediation is confidential since public records aren't kept. A successful mediation ends with the settlement of every issue in a divorce. And even though a mediator can't provide legal advice, you are still free to receive advice from a lawyer while in mediation.
Court-ordered mediation
There are times during a divorce case when court-ordered mediation may occur. In states like Utah, for example, you must attend at least one mediation session if you file for a contested divorce. In the event that mediation doesn't produce the intended results, the divorce process can continue. It is then considered "contested" because you and your spouse could not agree on certain aspects of the divorce.
If you have any more questions about what mediators do and how they can help you navigate your divorce, schedule a free intro call with us today.
.png)
Not sure if mediation will work for you?
Our free download can help.
