Divorce can be difficult to go through, but it doesn’t have to be. Parties who are willing and open to working with a mediator can alleviate much stress, tension, cost and time. A mediator allows the parties to have some control over their divorce, as opposed to leaving their lives up for a judge to decide. In mediation, the parties work with a neutral third party to come to an agreement on their own regarding how they will split the big issues such as property, custody, and support. Compromise is needed, which means giving up something you want. But in mediation you get to choose your compromises, instead of having them imposed upon you by a judge.
The benefits of mediation include that it is not as timely as going through a long court battle, and often it’s not as costly. Parties usually leave the mediation feeling a sense of accomplishment, empowerment, and integrity because they were able to reach an agreement with their spouse on their own, in their own time, and by their own terms. If children are involved, this usually sets a precedent for how communication and decisions about the children will go in the future, which is a predictor for good co-parenting. Parents develop the confidence to know that they can work with one another to make important decisions in their children’s best interest.
A good mediator will help you define what is most important to you, to your spouse, and how a judge may decide the matter in court so that you can make informed decisions. In choosing a mediator, it’s important to find someone with an extensive background in family law who is up to date on the relevant laws and procedures of your county and state.
Authored by IRWIN & IRWIN.
IRWIN & IRWIN Family Law is located in Fullerton, California. We provide a full suite of family law services from divorce litigation, divorce mediation, child custody issues, domestic violence restraining orders and representing minors in court. “Every situation is different, and some come with very complex financial issues. Our legal team is here to support you during a very troubling time and prepare you for court, or to at least help negotiate or mediate the issues out to establish an equitable legal resolution,” says Mark Irwin, Managing Partner at the firm.
