| The benefits to divorce mediation, as an alternative | | | | know what you're agreeing to, on every point, with |
| to litigation, are many. First and foremost, mediation | | | | every Memorandum of Understanding that's drawn |
| helps prevent your family from being torn apart in | | | | up. You're not turning over your fate to the whims |
| the process of divorce. | | | | of a judge, hoping for the best.oThroughout the |
| Just because you and your spouse have decided to | | | | entire process of divorce mediation, your thoughts, |
| divorce doesn't mean that you have to go to war, | | | | opinions, and views will be heard, and you'll have time |
| yet litigation, by its very nature, is designed to be an | | | | to express yourself during each negotiation. That's |
| adversarial process. You hire a divorce attorney, your | | | | not possible with divorce litigation, when you're given |
| spouse hires an attorney, and suddenly you have | | | | limited time to testify. Because the courts are |
| lawyers on the clock, involved in and billing for every | | | | overcrowded, underfunded, and understaffed, most |
| single issue - major and minor. Inadvertently, you find | | | | judges and magistrates are forced to move cases |
| yourself fighting about issues that could have been | | | | through the system with a limited amount of |
| easily settled through mediation, and you've lost | | | | attention give to each one. In other cases, judges |
| control of the process. | | | | delay decisions for months after trials, which could |
| Mediation, on the other hand, is a process of | | | | lead to additional stress and anxiety for you.oWith |
| peaceful communications, whereby you and your | | | | divorce mediation, you're able to make sound, |
| spouse express what you want during facilitated | | | | well-thought-out decisions. Unlike litigation, you'll never |
| meetings, listen to each other, and come to | | | | be asked to make a life-changing decision in just |
| agreements. These agreements can be about | | | | minutes, in the crowded halls of a courthouse, on one |
| parenting time, money, personal items, spousal | | | | of the most stressful days of your life.oDivorce |
| support, division of property, child care arrangements, | | | | mediation protects your privacy, whereas in litigated |
| and anything else that needs to be resolved. These | | | | divorce cases, there's no confidentiality. All court files |
| agreements are written up as a "Memorandums of | | | | become public records, some of which are available |
| Understanding," and they're filed with the courts as | | | | online. Every intimate detail of your marriage, |
| part of your divorce. | | | | finances, children's lives, and more potentially can be |
| The benefits to mediation are both financial and | | | | accessed.oDivorce mediation is less stressful than |
| emotional, including:oThe average cost of divorce | | | | litigation, which by its nature is combative. When |
| mediation is $1,200-$5,000, including all filing fees, | | | | children are involved, the importance of healthy, |
| whereas the average cost of divorce litigation in the | | | | ongoing communications between you and your |
| state of Colorado runs between $25,000-$50,000 for | | | | spouse becomes even more vital.oDuring mediation, |
| a low-conflict divorce.oThe average timeframe for | | | | you set your own schedule for conferences and |
| divorce mediation, from the filing of court forms and | | | | meetings, and you're not forced to rely on open |
| the initial mediation consultation to finalization of the | | | | court dates and attorney availability.oMediation offers |
| divorce runs three to six months, whereas a litigated | | | | you the flexibility to try out of some the agreements |
| divorce is typically drawn out for twelve to eighteen | | | | you reach with your spouse, giving you the time and |
| months.oDivorce mediation is much easier than | | | | space to determine if they'll work before you sign |
| divorce litigation, because agreements can be | | | | the final divorce agreement. |
| reached quickly and simply, between you and your | | | | Why not try divorce mediation? If, for some reason, |
| spouse, without having to go to court at every turn. | | | | you and your spouse can't resolve your differences |
| There are less scheduling conflicts along the way, and | | | | and come to the fair agreements you need through |
| no expensive delays.oThe outcomes in divorce | | | | mediation, you always have the option of retaining an |
| mediation are more predictable than in litigation. You | | | | attorney and litigating your case. |