Benefits of Divorce Mediation

Bunmi Awoniyi, May 20, 2010

Many people are choosing mediation as an alternative to divorce litigation. Mediation is a process where the parties meet with an impartial and neutral facilitator who assists them in communicating their primary concerns. The parties work to identify issues, collect information, evaluate options and find solutions that address the concerns of both parties. During divorce mediation, the parties may have issues to resolve such as custody of their children, a parenting schedule, child and spousal support issues, property division or tax issues.

There are many benefits of going through mediation rather than going into court to resolve issues in a divorce:

1. It costs less when both parties meet with a divorce mediator as they typically share in the costs, and at the Law Office of Bunmi Awoniyi, flat-rate mediation options may be available if the attorney determines that the case is appropriate for such an option;

2. The parties retain control of finding solutions to their problems rather than having the court make the final decisions in their case;

3. Mediation tends to be easier on the children involved;

4. Divorce mediation facilitates healthier communication between the parties;

5. The mediation process aids the parties in their own recovery and transition as the mediator will facilitate negotiations and open the channels of communication on important decisions;

6. The attorney mediator will provide the procedural and legal framework to appropriately address the issues presented by the parties;

7. The mediation process is confidential;

8. The divorce mediator prepares all of the initial and final documents required in a dissolution of marriage or legal separation;

9. Mediation is a voluntary process so the parties do not give up their right to go to court in the event that mediation does not work for either party;

10. Mediation lays the foundation for resolving future controversies;

11. Parties can quickly address pressing issues without the lengthy delays involved in going to court; and

12. The parties set the pace during mediation meaning that parties with relatively few issues may be able to resolve all the issues in 2-4 two-hour mediation session whereas parties with multiple and more complex issues may require 4-8 two-hour mediation sessions.

For more information, please view our brochure on Mediation.

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