Family Law Mediation gives spouses an opportunity to resolve their disputes regarding property division, child support. child custody, parenting time, spousal maintenance and virtually any other issue which arises as a result of a divorce. Spouses can attend mediation with or without attorneys and can start mediating before they contact an attorney.

Advantages of Mediation over Litigation

There are many advantages but the most often cited are:

• Saves money
• Saves time
• Saves your sanity and preserve the relationship beneficial to co-parenting after divorce
• Allows you to keep control over the outcome of your case

Mediation can save you money whether you attend with an attorney or without. The mediator’s role is to help parties reach an agreement that works for both parties. The mediator does not represent any one party and therefore does not advocate for any one position over another. This allows the mediator flexibility to be creative and point out options which the parties may not have come up with on their own, or options which their own attorneys may not have suggested because the attorney’s role is to advocate for one side over the other.

Even if spouses do not reach an agreement on all issues, mediation can result in a partial agreement which allows parties to save money litigating things which they don’t need to litigate. All parties in a family law matter are required to attempt some sort of settlement before appearing at a hearing and Mediation is great option for attempting a settlement.