| Divorce mediation, a calm, rational negotiation to iron | | | | attorneys. Divorce mediators may be attorneys who |
| out the terms of a marriage's end, is becoming an | | | | have experience in divorce cases. |
| increasingly popular alternative to acrimonious traditional | | | | Divorce mediation usually plays out like this: |
| divorce litigation. | | | | The first meeting: The couple and the mediator will |
| In divorce mediation, a mediator aids in negotiation | | | | identify what needs to be discussed and decide when |
| between a husband and wife by assisting with | | | | to discuss it. They'll also decide what information, such |
| communication, acting as a buffer when tempers flare | | | | as tax and property records, needs to be gathered |
| and providing information and strategies to help resolve | | | | and shared. |
| differences. The benefits of this process are lower | | | | After the first meeting, the divorce mediator leads the |
| costs, less angst and an agreement the parties want | | | | couple through issues in dispute and helps resolve |
| to adhere to, rather than one they're forced to adhere | | | | them, suggesting compromises and strategies to avoid |
| to. | | | | conflict. The mediator may also give advice how |
| It's a fact that a traditional in-court divorce complete | | | | disagreements would play out in the court system if |
| with feuding attorneys and out-of-court drama can hit | | | | negotiations break down and an agreement cannot be |
| an already suffering husband and wife a knockout | | | | reached. |
| blow square in the pocketbook. Typical divorce costs | | | | Once the couple has reached an agreement on all |
| can run anywhere from two to ten times higher than | | | | issues in the divorce mediation, the mediator writes up |
| the cost of a divorce mediation. | | | | an agreement for review by the parties and, if they |
| Many lawyers charge a retainer fee of between | | | | have them, their attorneys. |
| $2,500 and $5,000 for typical divorce cases, and also | | | | Because of the collaborative and communicative |
| bill the client for any services in addition to the time | | | | nature of divorce mediations compare couples who |
| covered by the retainer. And if the case goes back to | | | | have mediated their divorce with couples who go |
| court because of subsequent litigation, that's even | | | | through an adversarial divorce, mediating couples are |
| more money for the attorney. By using a divorce | | | | more likely to be satisfied with the process and the |
| mediator, divorcing couples can substantially reduce | | | | results, likely to take less time and spend less money, |
| this cost and avoid subsequent litigation by forging an | | | | and are less likely to go back to court later to fight |
| agreement both parties can live with. | | | | about something. |
| Mediation sessions can include the party's attorneys or | | | | Divorce mediation keeps you and your spouse in |
| a neutral attorney or an attorney-mediator who can | | | | control. That can help in recovering from the break and |
| inform both parties of their legal rights, but does not | | | | moving on and enjoying your life. |
| provide advice to either, or can be conducted without | | | | |