Did you know the average divorce* now costs $95,000? It doesn’t have to be that way!
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Divorce does not have to be a battle. The only reason that tends to be the case is that most people only know of one thing they can do when they decide to divorce — hire attorneys and go to court. When you do, you are starting a lawsuit, just as if you were suing a landlord for refusing to give you back your security deposit, or a big corporation for stealing your copyright.
But did you know that it is not only possible to get a divorce without ever setting foot in a courtroom? Not only is it possible, the court would prefer it that!
Fact: The happiest you will ever see a judge in his or her courtroom will be when they have just been told that a case has been removed from that day’s schedule because the couple decided to settle privately.
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Unfortunately, as the burdens on our court system steadily increase, an air of mystery remains around this valuable process. Here are a few commonly held myths about divorce mediation, and the realities you should know.
Myth #1: I need the mediator on MY side!
The Reality: The titles “Mediator” and “Arbitrator” are often confused. An arbitrator hears both sides of a case outside of a formal courtroom and makes binding decisions. Mediation is vastly different in that the process is essentially owned by the couple. A mediator has no power to over the decisions reached. If either divorcing spouse is uncomfortable with an aspect of the agreements being developed, it is their right to disagree and keep searching for solutions. My personal mediation mantra: “What can you both comfortably live with so you can agree and continue to move forward?”
Myth #2: I “googled” the law, so I know what I should get.
The Reality: Most people enter their divorce overwhelmed by confusion and fear. Internet research is an inexpensive and easy to reach for anxiety reducer (I admittedly love it myself), but searches for family law information can bring a false sense of security in relation to certain entitlements. Some may find one attorney’s legal opinion and mistake it having found their “rights”. One of the great beauties of U.S. law is that it remains open to interpretation and expansion based on new cases and changing opinions. There is simply no way to ever know what an outcome would be in court.
Myth #3: The only good mediators are attorneys or former judges.
The Reality: While the field of mediation is seen as the domain of lawyers and retired judges, there are many areas of professional training that have as much to bring to the table. No mediator – attorney or otherwise – may offer legal advice. A mediator must be able to think strategically, communicate effectively, navigate emotional landmines, and re-direct attempts at manipulation. Training in a wide variety of fields, including business, psychology, and social work, add tremendous value to the depth of the field of mediation.
Myth #4: If my mediator is a man and I am a woman, he will naturally side with my ex (and vice versa).
The Reality: A former client’s friends had told him the following: “You have a female mediator? You are going to lose everything!” In any profession, if you are a good at what you do, you are good at what you do. It is a mediator’s responsibility to remain neutral. At the end of the day, your mediator does not live in your shoes. For a mediated agreement to have sustainable outcomes, it must work for both individuals – not for the husband or the wife only, and certainly not for the mediator.
Myth #5: Couples with a high net worth should never mediate their divorce.
The Reality: There are three areas to be determined in any divorce: 1) the parenting plan, 2) the division of assets and debts, and 3) child support/alimony. No matter the size of the bank account, communication and personality dynamics remain the critical issues in the development of mutually beneficial solutions. The key is to find a mediator with training, integrity and experience, as well as the humility to bring in outside experts (i.e., parenting coordinators, attorneys specializing in relevant areas outside of family law, and wealth managers) when necessary, to address the complex issues that might otherwise fuel an expensive “Battle of the Experts” in court. No one has so much money that it should be wasted on increasing conflict.
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If you are considering divorce mediation and any of these issues or others remain a question for you, ask the mediators you interview for their opinions. A mediator worth his or her weight in salt will appreciate that you put your concerns out there honestly, and will respond to you in kind. The most important criteria in the selection of a mediator and a divorce process is that all involved feel comfortable with their choice.
*$95,000 is the average in California. That number may vary by state.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
It’s important to remember that even if you are getting a divorce, it can still be worked out amicably or with less hassle for the both of you. Thanks for clearing up the myths.
The two comments above from Janice and MGM are not typical of divorce or mediation. I am an attorney and I have been practicing in Family Law for over twenty years. I am a Certified Family Law Specialist. I have been doing mediation for over 15 years. Less than 10% of all divorce matters end up in court. At some point, almost every divorce is negotiated to conclusion. The question is whether you and your spouse can settle your differences with the assistance of a mediator or whether you need to hire attorneys to do it for you. I agree… Read more »
“Less than 10% of all divorce matters end up in court” Typical or not mediation is no guarantee of an amicable divorce settlement and all it takes is one party to say their done with mediation and decides to litigate and there is absolutely nothing the other side can do to prevent it. Further as I stated prior, at least in the state of California, any work or agreement done in mediation is in admissible in divorce court. Please do not mistake my comments as criticisms of mediation as I think is a valuable service that can be a very… Read more »
44 yr marriage to a malignant narc. I counter filed dissolution in Aug. 2013. My first lawyer quit. 2nd lawyer came to me, stated it was a simple division of assets. Fla. law. Not even a trial at this point. Opposing Counsel has stopped all trial proposals. Mediation has been a laugh. Opposing coucil has allowed no maintenance. I moved 8 times and live on SS#. I am in a wheelchair from stress. Janice Killian
Mediation is a nice idea in theory, but it has one huge achilles heel. And that is if one party refuses to agree to any settlement proposal there is nothing the other side can do about it. If one party decides changes their mind, backs out of mediation and decides to go the litigation route instead, there is nothing the other party can do about. Further, at least in the sate of California, any mediation discussion can not be used in family court, or even mentioned at all. This is exactly what happened to me. After spending thousands of dollars… Read more »