Divorce is a frightening concept for most married individuals. Even if it’s obvious that the marriage is no longer a positive and healthy, couples may still feel reticent to officially end their union. After all, divorce is a messy, complicated, expensive process. Also, most people have heard at least a few horror stories about divorce gone wrong and the lasting issues that sometimes result from ending a marriage.
If you feel like your marriage is clearly over but you don’t want to drag your family through the emotional tumult of a contentious divorce, mediation could be the best option for your family. It is a process that allows you to file an uncontested divorce.
In fact, mediation offers a host of benefits for couples, who don’t have a toxic dynamic, to streamline and simplify the end of their marriage.
What are the benefits of mediation?
The first and most obvious benefit of mediation is the fact that you won’t have to endure a contentious divorce in the courts. The cost of ending your marriage will be substantially lower because you will require less time from the court and your individual attorneys.
It also means that you will have more privacy than those going through a court divorce. Mediation records are typically confidential. Finally, one of the most significant benefits of mediation in New Jersey is the fact that you can maintain control over the outcome in a way you simply cannot in a litigated divorce in the courts. You and your ex, not a judge, get to set the terms.
What happens at mediation?
Mediation is the process of working with a third party to set amicable terms for the resolution of a disagreement. In divorces, mediation typically involves working with a third-party mediator and your own attorney to negotiate with your former spouse and find workable solutions related to asset division and custody.
Even couples who can’t stand to be in the same room can make mediation work. Their own attorneys and their mediator can serve as an intermediary between the divorcing spouses, making it easier for everyone to stay calm and rational.
Could mediation work for your family?
Although many couples can benefit from mediation, it isn’t a miracle panacea that fixes every divorcing couple’s issues. Couples with severely imbalanced relationships, where one person controls or manipulates the other, likely won’t benefit from mediation. The same is true for families dealing with abuse or severe mental health issues.
If none of these terms apply to your family, it may be worth your time to discuss mediation with your attorney and spouse to see if it may work for your family.