You and your spouse have worked hard throughout your lives to build a solid financial foundation. Now that your marriage is coming to an end, you may have some concern about receiving an equitable share of the marital estate. This may be especially true if you have complicated assets.
A growing number of divorcing spouses are choosing to use mediation to resolve divorce-related issues. Even if you cannot settle everything during mediation, it may ultimately make your divorce a simpler process. Is mediation an option for complex financial matters, though?
Your financial disclosures
Whether your divorce proceeds through the courts or with mediation, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have an affirmative obligation to disclose assets and debts. These disclosures cover both requested and unrequested financial information. Consequently, you are likely to have the details you need to mediate money-related matters early in your divorce process.
A neutral financial professional
Mediating your divorce may also give you more time to address financial matters carefully. You and your husband or wife may agree on a neutral financial specialist to help you settle complex issues. If you mostly have allowed your partner to handle marital finances, this may be a particularly beneficial aspect of divorce mediation.
A creative approach
Even under ideal circumstances, dividing complex assets can be challenging. If you choose to work with a divorce mediator, though, you have the opportunity to come up with creative solutions. That is, you do not necessarily have to adhere to the same rigid protocols a judge must follow.
There is probably no easy way to determine if divorce mediation is the most effective way to divide your complex marital estate. Still, because of its many benefits, you may want to start with divorce mediation and make litigation your fall-back plan.