What Is Family Mediation?
Family mediation helps parents make important decisions during the separation or divorce process. They’re conducted with the help of a mediator and can be performed in an office or online.
Most often, the mediator helps the parents make decisions that are in the best interests of their children. Besides being a great way to solve conflicts, family mediation also saves money on expensive court proceedings, and it’s also quicker than waiting for court actions.
Family mediation can also help with the following:
- Identifying issues that need resolving
- Focusing on one problem at a time
- Amical discussions of possible solutions
- Creating parenting plans or agreeing about financial issues
- Preparing a draft of the emerging agreement
- Preparing and revising the agreement for signing
However, it’s also essential to understand what a mediator can’t do. A family mediator doesn’t provide legal advice to the parties. The mediators are neutral to both sides and can only give information about the local laws and court procedures. The main goal is to ensure mutual understanding and enhance communication between the ex-spouses. Family mediators don’t recommend any activity that could benefit either party over the other.
If you have a conflict to solve, it’s best to do so via family mediation. But this isn’t the only reason why you should invest in mediation. Here are additional reasons why doing so is a good idea.
Family Mediation Promotes Communication
Communicating with your ex-spouse is probably not on the top of your wish list, but it’s certainly crucial if children are involved. By attaining family mediation, you’ll keep the relationship amicable and avoid hostility. Ultimately, this decreases the chance for further conflict and makes the transition period easier for everyone.
It’s Better for the Children
When there is a positive relationship between the parents, they can focus on their children’s needs. This is precisely what family mediation does – it puts children first. During the family mediation sessions, you work with a facilitator to focus on your child’s best interests and create a unified parenting plan.
It’s a Confidential Process
Taking matters to court means turning your personal affairs public. Unless you want your dirt spilled over to the masses, it’s best to go to family mediation instead.
Family mediation is between you, the ex-spouse, and the mediator. During negotiations, you can be honest and truthful and know that nothing you say will be held against you in court. No one will judge you for sharing your feelings, and confidential information won’t be shared with anyone outside of the room.
It’s Completely Voluntary
Even in the case of a friendly divorce, the transition period can be challenging. Deciding to go for family mediation can help you bear with your feelings and get past the hard times faster. You’re free to decide when you don’t need to participate anymore. You can get as much of the family mediation experience as you need.
It Offers Flexible Solutions
Family mediation is super flexible. It allows you to find solutions that would be hard to achieve in the court setting. You and your ex-spouse are in control of the outcomes and can apply solutions that are tailored to your situation.
It’s According to Your Schedule
When taking things to court, you have zero control over scheduling. The court tells you when to appear, with no regard for your personal commitments and schedule. Plus, you’re likely to spend hours before a judge is ready. Also, it can take months just to get a court date.
Mediation is much more time-efficient than taking the affair to court. It lets you and your ex-spouse pre-determine dates with the mediator. You can find a free hour in your agenda and resolve it then, instead of spending countless hours on court visits.
Family Mediation – Is It Worth It?
Family mediation is definitely worth it, considering the cost-effectiveness, the private setting, and the ex-spouse communication-friendly benefits. Whether you have questions to resolve regarding property division, child support, or any other issue, there’s no better place to be than family mediation. And if you agree with your ex-spouse on these critical questions, even better. A few family mediation sessions can help you get past the transition period faster and maintain a healthy relationship in the future. Ultimately, if you’re after a friendly separation or divorce, family mediation is the way to go. To start the mediation process with Legalhood, simply click here.
