Mediation is something you may want to consider when getting divorced. If you work with a mediator, instead of going to court and getting a ruling from a judge, you (as a couple) and the mediator work together to decide the details. You then present your agreement to the court and they grant the divorce.
What, then, is the benefit? It seems like it’s not really any different than a traditional divorce.
The truth is that there are many benefits to mediation. For instance, experts note that it is often faster and it may cost less. If your goal is to reduce the cost of ending your relationship, while increasing the speed with which you put the whole thing behind you, this is one way to do it. That can be a huge benefit for couples without minor children, especially when they just want to move on with their lives.
Another massive benefit is that of control. The mediator isn’t in control of the outcome of your divorce in the same way that a judge would be. Instead, they help you and your spouse work together to negotiate a reasonable split. You and your spouse actually have the most control over the outcome — as long as it’s legal. Many people prefer this since they worry that a judge will give them a ruling that they don’t agree with, defining the rest of their life for them. This is a huge benefit of mediation for divorcing parents because they get to make decisions that will best benefit their children, instead of letting a judge impose a mostly standardized parenting plan on them that doesn’t really meet their family’s needs.
There are cases where mediation doesn’t work, such as high-conflict divorce cases. But you can see why it’s worth considering as you sort out all of the options you have. A family law attorney can help you make the choice.