Why Are More People Opting for Divorce Mediation Instead of Court Battles?

Nowadays, divorcing is such a frequent activity that some sociologists have concluded that it could be a characteristic idiom of this contemporary age. The truth is that most couples do not evaluate the multiple consequences that divorce brings with it, both for themselves and for their children -if there are any. The first thing to consider is that on a psychological level, divorce is a process that can last months, years, and sometimes a lifetime. It can affect the emotional stability of the people involved due to imbalances during the marriage that intensify over time if they do not seek professional help. 

It is essential to mention that each divorce contains different characteristics that depend on the individuals involved in it. In its various facets, divorce is both an emotional experience and a legal act regulated by laws that lead to significant changes such as a new address. Indeed, getting divorced is never going to be easy. It’s obviously a huge change, and it’s representative of a range of emotional and stressful issues you need to deal with. That doesn’t mean that there are no ways to try to improve the ordeal. That’s why an increasing contingent of divorcing couples is now turning to divorce mediation instead of the more typical courtroom battle—understanding why sheds light on the trend and may end up changing your own mind, too.

Very seldom do the parties involved in a divorce or separation consider the possibility of resorting to family mediation. However, more and more, time and the numerous and satisfactory experiences show its enormous usefulness and its many advantages, which benefit both the spouses and their children, as well as the judicial system itself. What do we mean when we talk about mediation? It is a way of resolving conflicts that aim to avoid the judicial process and reach a mutual, fast, fair, and lasting agreement. The main objective is to achieve the maximum possible understanding between the parties and a much greater degree of commitment concerning the agreed decisions.

Besides the immediate changes to your life as you get divorced – involving everything from your living arrangements to finances, the three most challenging aspects are how much time you spend, how much stress you experience, and how much money you spend. With divorce mediation, you may reduce all three of these burdens collectively. 

Divorce mediation typically offers a swifter resolution than a courtroom case would. You can immediately go to work and produce an outcome instead of waiting for a trial date and dealing with all the preparation and the aftermath. You’ll still need to wait for that hearing date to make it official. However, the “work” will have already long been done. When you spend less time in preparation and court, you save money, too, since you’re paying your attorney for less of his or her time. 

Both of the above inevitably reduces the stress you’re under and your emotional burden during the process. You’re also not stressed with what a judge is going to say or rule during the case. Another huge selling point for divorce mediation is that it puts the power of the outcome in your hands, or more accurately, in the hands of the attorneys representing both parties. When you go in front of a judge, and it’s entirely up to them how certain matters are handled, you’re at risk of nearly losing out on everything important to you in the case. It’s not unusual for parties to be both shocked and disappointed with how a judge rules during a divorce case.

With divorce mediation, though, you get some of that control back. Yes, you’ll have to compromise, which likely means surrendering something that matters to you. However, it’s on your terms, and you get to advocate for what’s most important to you specifically. Divorce mediation isn’t right for every person or every situation. It’s also always important to consult with experienced lawyers in your local area who can advise you on your options and what may be best given your case’s specifics. However, there are certainly many positives and benefits which are worth considering.