It is common to find that couples who mediate are more satisfied with their final agreement than those who choose to litigate. In addition, mediation agreements are designed to help prevent future conflict.
If you’re considering a divorce, mediation is an option worth exploring. Here are a few ways that mediation can save you money and time.
Reduce Legal Fees
It can cost thousands of dollars to go through a divorce in litigation. The costs can add up quickly between attorney travel, meeting with clients, and drafting legal documents.
In mediation, couples can negotiate and settle issues without the expensive process of going through the court system. By working together with a mediator and attempting to resolve their issues, couples can save time and money on their divorce.
It is also important to remember that divorce lawyers bill their clients for any correspondence, including phone conversations and email replies. It means that the couple could save thousands of dollars in legal costs if they can settle the specifics of their divorce during mediation and avoid consulting with their attorneys. This is especially true if the couple is ready to discuss their finances with their mediator since they have structured their financial records. For more information on how mediation works, go to https://www.garwoodfamilylaw.com/san-diego-divorce-lawyer/divorce-mediation/. In addition, many states have rules that waive filing fees for low-income people.
Save Time
Divorce mediation takes a fraction of the time that traditional divorce litigation does. Many spouses who choose to litigate their divorce wind up spending years battling each other in court, which can be stressful and exhausting for all parties involved. Court skirmishes also foster lingering hostility and resentment that can negatively impact co-parenting.
Couples who divorce through mediation can typically resolve all their issues in a few sessions with the mediator. It saves both time and money because it is often expensive to hire attorneys hourly.
In addition, spouses who take the litigation route may need to hire many professionals for things such as an appraisal of the property, a forensic accountant, or a psychologist. Those expenses can add up quickly. Many divorce mediation services will help you complete your paperwork and file it with the court, saving you time and money. Some divorce mediation services even offer evening sessions, ideal for spouses with daytime jobs.
Save Money
The process of divorce is often stressful and emotional. It is especially true when determining child custody and alimony. In addition, the costs of litigation can be costly. Litigation fees for both spouses can add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
However, couples can save money through divorce mediation. The mediator’s fee is usually split between the couple. Additionally, the couple may save on expenses related to hiring a meeting room and taking time off work for court appearances.
Additionally, in mediation, the spouses choose the schedule for their sessions with the mediator. It is a significant advantage over litigation, where the court schedules. Using video conferencing software for your mediation sessions is also possible to save on travel costs. It makes it easier for spouses working outside the home to participate in divorce mediation.
Avoid the Courtroom
Litigation is a lengthy, expensive, emotional process that pits spouse against spouse and results in a judge making decisions about your life. Mediation is conducted outside of the courtroom and can be far less stressful and time-consuming.
However, mediation is not a magic bullet. It does require a certain amount of trust between spouses and some information to be exchanged (bank statements, tax returns, detailed asset/liability information, valuations). If one party is deceitful or hiding assets, it may not be worth attempting mediation.
Additionally, divorce mediation will not be beneficial if spouses claim fault or hire an attorney to fight for their interests in court. Most mediators recommend and even require both spouses to hire their attorneys for legal advice and to review any final agreement before filing it with the court. However, mediation can be very effective if you are willing to compromise and are open to a non-confrontational approach to reaching an agreement.