In a world where ‘conscious uncoupling’ has become the benchmark of a good divorce, spouses are seeking strategies to navigate separation without resorting to acrimonious courtroom showdowns.
Enter mediation, a process that encourages cooperation, compromise, and helps mitigate conflict for spouses looking to part ways.
Family Mediation 101
Family mediation is a dispute resolution method that provides a practical and private forum for couples going through a separation or divorce. With the help of a neutral third party, both spouses are encouraged to work together to find solutions that make sense for both of them and that protect the best interests of their family.
Couples may choose mediation when there are children involved in an effort to keep discussions amicable and peaceful. Instead of relying on a judge to make the final call on matters relating to their children, spouses can compromise to the best of their ability to keep things as stress-free as possible.
Why Choose Mediation?
Mediation provides families with benefits that are hard to find elsewhere. It can be significantly more economical than going to court and offers a more informal forum for discussion. By encouraging open communication and honest discussion, mediation may help couples reach conclusions in a way that would not have been possible in a courtroom setting.
Selecting The Right Mediator
An important part of the mediation process is choosing the right mediator. Acting neutrally, the mediator will help participants work towards finding solutions and settlements. When choosing a mediator, consider asking questions about their mediation style and how they approach the process to see if they will be a good fit. The mediator ultimately cannot make decisions regarding the situation, their role is to guide participants toward reaching a settlement but they do not have the final say.
Whether a couple is parting ways on good terms or simply wants to keep the situation as conflict-free as possible, mediation can be an invaluable tool. While there are never any guarantees that an uncoupling will be pleasant, there are steps that couples can take to pursue more harmonious outcomes.