Many spouses stay in their dysfunctional marriages because they fear not being able to find love again or for financial reasons. Others delay the inevitable simply because they fear becoming involved in a long, drawn-out court battle over property division, child custody and alimony. Couples who pursue mediation often avoid fights. Some exes even rekindle their friendship with their ex once the process ends.
Spouses who have difficulty in seeing eye-to-eye on key issues such as child custody or support, property division and alimony often reach a standstill. They’re often faced with two options when this happens. They can either head to court and let a judge decide matters for them, or they can sit down at the negotiation table and work it out between themselves.
Most adults don’t like being told what to do. When faced with the prospect of a judge choosing what’s right for them and their family, many give divorce mediation an extra look.
There are goals that a mediator has when they’re asked to step in and help a couple broker a settlement in their divorce.
It’s their job to create a welcoming environment whereby each spouse can feel comfortable voicing their own preferences. The mediator is supposed to serve as a referee of sorts. They keep the former couple focused on matters that they need to resolve and don’t tolerate one being hostile toward the other.
If both parties are open to having a dialogue, then they may reach a divorce settlement far more quickly than they would have expected. This minimizes the chance of couples having to return to court to seek modifications in the future. Mediation can help spouses resolve their differences in just a few short sessions. This makes it a more cost-effective option compared to litigation.
Fort Myers couples who are at an impasse in settling their divorce should look into whether Florida mediation may be right for them. If you’ve committed to resolving your differences with your ex using a new approach, then a divorce mediation attorney can help you do that.
