Scottsdale Mediation Services

Divorce can take a lot out of you physically, mentally, and emotionally. You are going through some major changes in your life, and you have to consider all of the ramifications that come with a divorce. You are likely worried about your finances, as you know just how much a divorce can cost. You also know that it can end up taking up a lot of time. You and your ex might not be getting along well, so the idea of a DIY divorce is out of the question.

However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some hope to make things at least a little less problematic. You might have at least a few points where you and your spouse can agree. One of the options that you will want to consider is working with a mediator in Scottsdale for your case.

Understanding Mediation

If you want to avoid divorce court, or at least make that part of your divorce flow a little more smoothly, divorce mediation could be a good idea. The mediation process will ensure that both you and your spouse are heard and that you are treated fairly. The mediator is a neutral third party. They will not take sides between you and your spouse. Instead, their goal is to help ensure that you and your spouse can find areas where you agree on aspects of your divorce.

This might include the way that you split the debt and assets, whether any spousal maintenance is paid, a parenting plan for the kids, and more. The goal of the mediator is to help you and your spouse agree on all aspects of your divorce, so you can settle rather than go through divorce court. As you can imagine, this provides some nice benefits, as we will discuss below.

Of course, spouses might not agree on everything they set out to explore with mediation. That happens and it is perfectly fine. For all of the areas where you do agree, you can reach a settlement agreement. Any of the excess issues that you can’t agree on will then go through the courts. Keep in mind that mediation can work for other family law issues, as well, including issues with parenting time, for example.

Why Should You Choose a Mediator for Your Scottsdale Divorce?

Although mediation may not always be the right choice for all divorces, it does have some great benefits that make it worth considering.

By the time you and your spouse are ready to file for divorce, there is a good chance that you aren’t getting along much at all. There are little issues that cause big fights, often over silly things. It might seem like talking to and negotiating with the other party is impossible. However, if both parties are willing to commit to the idea of negotiation, it can work.

This is one of the great benefits of working with a mediator. They are going to help facilitate the conversation and negotiations between you and your future ex. They will help to keep the conversations civil, calm, and productive.

Of course, the mediators will also be able to answer questions you might have regarding the process. They can start to draft a settlement recording with the areas where you and your spouse agree. Working with the mediator shows you that compromise is possible.

You Get to Determine the Results

What happens when you end up going through the standard divorce courts? Most of the time, it means that you are going to be at the mercy of the judge. What you want from your divorce is not always what you are going to get. The court in Scottsdale will be the one that determines all of the most important matters of your divorce that haven’t been settled through mediation.

Do you want to let a judge be the one who determines this, or would you rather find a way to work with your ex? When the judge makes the decisions, it might mean that neither you nor your spouse will be happy with the results.

Save Time and Money

Going through a regular divorce is going to take up a lot of time, and it will cost you a lot of money. Even a “cheap” divorce can be expensive, and more than most people want to pay. By choosing mediation, which is often paid for by both spouses, the cost is going to be much lower. You will also be happy to note that when you can settle with a mediator, it can cut off a lot of time from your divorce.

A Stronger Post-Divorce Relationship

Here is a benefit of mediation that a lot of people don’t ever consider, even though it can make a huge difference to your life going forward. When you work with a mediator, it can often remove a lot of the tension and anger that would otherwise have been amplified between you and your ex.

This means that your relationship going forward shouldn’t be fraught with quite as much bitterness. If you have children, this is very important, as you will have to co-parent and be in one another’s lives for years to come.

Mediation Really Works

For a lot of couples, you will be happy to know that mediation is the best choice. It works, and you can go into mediation at any point during the divorce process before the final divorce decree. There is always the option to mediate, and it is something you should consider. The court even suggests mediation and may require it in some cases.

Talk with your spouse about the possibility of going through mediation. Try to find a mediator together or at least one that you can both agree to use. Let them help you and your spouse talk about all of the uncomfortable parts of your divorce, so you can get it over with as soon as possible. The sooner you are done with the divorce the sooner you can move on with your life.