One More Time and with Feeling!

{2:48 minutes to read} For those of you who read my blogs on a regular basis, please forgive the possible redundancy here. But a colleague of mine recently asked me to write an article for her website addressing the 5 things people don’t know about divorce mediation. I thought it would be a good idea to post it for my own site and for my loyal readers out there in TV land!

5 Things People May Not Know About Divorce Mediation

1. You do not need a lawyer.

Mediation is a voluntary process and does not require the services of an attorney. Moreover, most of what we address in mediation has to do with your family. You wouldn’t think of calling an attorney or a judge to ask them how to make decisions about your children. Same applies here.

2. Mediation is a confidential process.

Most people don’t realize that once they step into the world of the adversarial system (the legal system), their private life is no longer private. It ALL becomes public record. If you covet your privacy, mediation is the way to go.

3. The cost of an entire mediation for both parties can be as little as an attorney’s retainer for just one party!

It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Wouldn’t you rather put your hard-earned money into a college savings account for your children? Why ransom the cost of your children’s college education to the legal system?

4. Mediation is a more streamlined and quicker process than the litigation route.

This is because the mediator facilitates the voluntary agreements the parties make with each other. The fact that you are actually talking with each other rather than through another person lessens the potential for misunderstanding. Mediators provide an atmosphere for mutual cooperation which lends itself to respectful, direct and uncomplicated levels of communication.

5. Mediation is a more gentle and civilized process than litigation.  

No matter how challenging your situation is, litigation incites it further. There is no question about that. Mediation inspires you to take a deep breath and think about what’s really important to you, to your family, and what kind of future you want to create. Remember: The marriage may be over; the family is not.