While divorce ends your marriage, you and your ex-spouse will probably have to maintain some sort of relationship, especially if you have children. Mediation is a non-adversarial alternative to litigation in court. Among many other benefits, it helps to preserve a cordial relationship with your ex-spouse.
Mediation is not about winning and losing but trying to find compromises that work for both you and your spouse. It requires commitment to the process and effort on your part. The following are ideas to help your divorce mediation go smoothly and successfully.
Gather information
Mediation can go more smoothly if you do your homework beforehand. This mostly involves collecting all relevant financial documents.
Select your mediator
According to SF Gate, mediation gives you and your spouse the ability to select the mediator who can help you reach a divorce agreement. You should take your time and make this decision carefully. Remember that the mediator’s job is not to make judgments. Rather, the mediator facilitates productive communication between you and your spouse so that you can make your own decisions.
Control your emotions
Even though mediation emphasizes communication and cooperation, it can still stir up strong negative emotions. This is only natural given the deeply personal nature of the proceedings. The mediator will do what he or she can to keep you focused on problem-solving rather than resorting to personal recriminations. However, you also have a part to play in controlling your emotions.
Before the mediation even begins, you should figure out a strategy to keep yourself calm. Deep breathing exercises can be an effective technique. If you feel yourself getting too wound up, it is perfectly acceptable to take a break from the session to clear your mind.
Mediation offers benefits besides an amicable split. It typically takes less time and is less expensive than litigation and gives you and your spouse a measure of control over the outcome.