Choosing mediation as opposed to litigation can have a lot of advantages when divorcing. This is even truer if you have children.
You do not need a court to order mediation, you can opt for it yourself. You can either use a private mediator, who you will pay, or a free one that the Virginia courts provide. These are typically retired judges. Either way, you will still need your own attorney to guide you and protect you throughout the process.
Mediation is ideal for couples who can agree on many of the issues they need to settle but are stuck on a few. The mediator’s job is to help you find a satisfactory comprise on those points you cannot agree on yourself.
What if we still can’t resolve some issues
Mediation is not an all-or-nothing situation. If you only want to use it for certain parts of your divorce or find you still have issues you cannot resolve with it, you can go to court for the other matters. Even mediating part of your divorce is worthwhile. Here are some of the benefits:
- It’s more efficient: Mediation is usually much quicker than litigation so more cost-effective. That will leave you more to spend on other important things, such as furnishing your new separate living spaces. It can also avoid you spending all your savings on the divorce.
- It’s more private: Keeping the details of your divorce private prevents people from getting confidential information that could embarrass or harm your children if they overhear. If you are a business owner, keeping your financial details private can also safeguard against competitors using it to their advantage.
- It’s less damaging: Litigating against each other in court can worsen relations between you and leave your children caught in the middle. Mediating shows you can still work together to get things done which is essential if you have to co-parent.
If you believe ending your marriage could be the step you need to start living a better life consider seeking legal guidance to learn more about mediation.