USING MEDIATION FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND COST-EFFICIENT DIVORCE
Whether marital problems have plagued a couple for some time or have recently crept up, deciding to end a marriage is a serious decision to make and major life event to go through. Thus, many divorcing couples in Alabama and elsewhere seek to make the process as painless as possible. While high conflict divorces do occur, many divorcing couples are able to work through the process to make it both time and cost-effective.
DIVORCE MEDIATION
Many decide to move forward with the divorce mediation process as a means to save money and reach a final agreement much more quickly. When compared to going to court, this can be a very effective way to meet these goals; however, it isn’t always accomplished wholly or in part by divorcing couples. Thus, it is important to consider the following tips to help make it a much more simple and effective process.
BENEFITS OF MEDIATION
The reason for hold ups in a divorce is because the parties cannot agree on issues such as child custody, support and property division. The mediation process seeks to provide each party with the opportunity to have some level of control of their future by allowing them to express their needs and wishes. While it is a stressful situation, this process could very well reduce the stress involved, as each party has a certain level of control and is able to voice their concerns.
Mediation is cost-effective, as litigation costs can be very costly. Because a mediated divorce can be settled rather quickly, this can reduce the costs significantly. However, if mediation is not successful, which can happen, this doesn’t allow for the avoidance of litigation fees. It could, however, help keep costs down if some issues were resolved in the mediation process.
Divorce is not a one size fits all process. The factors of the union will determine how best to move forward with dissolution. Thus, it is important to gain the knowledge necessary to determine if mediation can be successful, and if not, how best to move forward with a divorce in order to protect your rights and meet your needs and interests.