Divorce is difficult, even if you and the other party resolve to work amicably through your disputes and reach a beneficial out-of-court resolution. You may want to avoid hashing out your issues in court or resorting to litigation, but it may seem impossible for you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse to agree on anything. In this type of situation, there are specific types of dispute resolution methods that could work well for you.
One way for you to handle your divorce disputes is through mediation. This is an alternative to litigation, allowing you to address disagreements in a way that gives you a better chance of working through them peacefully and respectfully. By choosing to mediate, you can maintain more control over your post-divorce future and come to terms that will make sense long-term.
Benefits of mediation
One of the most significant benefits to choosing mediation over another approach for your divorce is that it will allow you to keep your divorce out of the courtroom. The terms of your final order will remain private. Other benefits of this choice include:
- Mediation will save you money because it generally takes less time to complete a mediated divorce than a traditional divorce.
- It decreases the chance of stressful conflict many couples experience during their divorce.
- It allows you to create a final order that will make sense for your unique family needs for years to come.
In mediation, you and your spouse will work with a neutral third-party mediator. This individual will help you address problems, talk through issues and encourage beneficial conversations between the two of you. He or she will also help you craft a final divorce order once you reach a resolution on all remaining issues. Your final order will be subject to the approval of a family court.
Is it right for you?
There is no one-size-fits all approach to divorce. While mediation could be beneficial for you, it is not necessarily the best choice in every situation. You and the other party may want to consider this option, even if you do not get along. While it is not necessary for the two parties to like each other, mediation will only work when there is a commitment to the process from both sides.
It will be helpful for you to work with an experienced New Jersey family law attorney as you consider your divorce options. If mediation is right for you, your legal ally can help you make choices that are best for your individual situation and unique needs.
