How Mediation Can Help You Avoid Conflict in a Divorce
In the U.S., about 5.5 million couples live together but are not married. Some of these couples do so because they want to avoid a messy divorce if their relationship ends. However, for married couples, divorce doesn’t always have to end in conflict. In this article, we look at how mediation can help you avoid conflict in a divorce.
A Mediator Is Neutral and Objective
Understandably, divorce is a time when emotions run high. The couple can experience all kinds of emotions ranging from disappointment, anger, and sadness, to revenge, mistrust, and betrayal. This can make it very difficult to reach a peaceful resolution or to see things from an objective perspective. Fortunately, mediation involves bringing a neutral third party into the equation. They’re there to help you make wise decisions that are not clouded by emotion. A mediator has no stake in the outcome, so their objective perspective is valuable in helping you reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
Mediation Helps You Communicate Effectively
One of the best ways to avoid conflict when divorcing is to communicate effectively. In divorce mediation, you meet with a trained mediator who is capable of facilitating a smoother discussion. Normally, when a divorcing couple tries to communicate, there’s a high risk that one or both parties will get emotional or respond negatively, which halts the discussion and prevents a successful resolution. However, mediation is designed to help couples going through a divorce reach an agreement on crucial matters, such as child custody, child support, and asset division.
Mediation Gives You Control and Freedom Over the Situation
When you file for divorce, you have the option of fighting it out in court. However, mediation is a much better alternative that makes the rest of your divorce hassle-free. An uncontested divorce is easier to resolve than a contested divorce and it also takes less time. With mediation, you can reach an agreement based on your terms and what you believe to be fair, instead of having a court judgment enforced on you. That means you and your spouse are in control instead of giving over control to the courts.
Couples who are getting divorced can benefit greatly by getting help from a mediator. Overall, mediation brings some objectivity into the proceedings and allows you to communicate more objectively. In addition, by avoiding going to court, you and your spouse can settle things on your terms. If you want to avoid more conflict during your divorce, reach out to talk to our divorce mediation specialists.