What to Expect During Divorce Mediation: The Importance of Structure

According to a study by Bowling Green State University, the average age for first divorces is 30.5 for men and 29 for women. If you are going through a divorce yourself, you may want to consider divorce mediation. Sometimes, judges will order couples to participate in mediation before they go to trial. You may also choose to do it on your own. But what do you get out of divorce mediation? Here’s what to expect during divorce mediation.

Structured Discussions

Wondering what to expect during divorce mediation? The first thing is structured discussions. Instead of you and your partner getting hostile, you’ll have discussions during divorce mediation, with it being open but structured. You will talk about things like the division of assets, support payments, and custody of children. This means you will be expected to declare your assets and finances. You must also make know your goals for your life after divorce. You must be ready to have these discussions, and it might be a good idea to show up with some supporting documentation.

Professional Guidance

In the past, mediators were supposed to give ground to the involved parties to determine the outcome of their case without providing any guidance. All they did was facilitate discussion. A lot of old-school mediators still use this approach. Unfortunately, it results in unfair agreements. While a divorce mediator shouldn’t try to provide legal guidance, they should advise you on what might happen in court and what’s generally regarded as fair. The mediator will deliver information fairly so that everyone can make the best decisions for themselves.

Neutrality

Divorce mediators are neutral when it comes to divorce. Under normal circumstances, no one should gain an advantage over their partner because of divorce mediation. This is a common misconception that people have, thinking they will get better results for themselves through mediation. This thinking will poison the entire process and cause the mediation to fail. If you want mediation to work for you, you must expect neutrality. That’s the best outcome for everyone involved.

Divorce mediation is a great way to settle things without fighting. Things are done courteously, and you can calmly discuss what’s best for everyone. Do you still need to know more about what to expect during divorce mediation? Get in touch with our team here at C.E.L. & Associates Inc. today. We would love to hear from you.