How to prepare to mediate your divorce

When you decide to divorce, you may wonder what your options are. Divorce mediation is one option to consider that can produce more timely, cost-effective and less acrimonious outcomes. However, this doesn’t mean it’s easy. It can be helpful to know how to prepare for divorce mediation if you decide that is the route you want to go.

Steps to take to get ready for divorce mediation

You should start getting ready for divorce mediation by doing your homework. Topics that will be mediated can include property division, spousal support, child custody and the division of debt. You should be familiar with your needs in each of these areas and also how to prioritize those interests for the divorce mediation process.

Along those lines you should also be familiar with your financial situation and what your financial needs will be following your divorce. You need to be realistic of what you will need to survive financially following your divorce and what your budget will look like. This can help you effectively mediate your financial interests during mediation.

If you have children, you will likely need to address child custody concerns during the divorce process. It is important to remain focused on what is best for the children and to consistently make them your main concern during the process. Divorce mediation can be better for children because it can lead to fewer bitter feelings. It’s also a less public process than going to divorce court, so it can be easier to shelter children from the hardest parts of the process.

Focus on resolution

Divorce litigation can sometimes result in disputes that can drag on but divorce mediation is focused on helping couples reach mutual outcomes on divorce-related concerns more quickly. For that reason, you should consider divorce mediation and have a plan to get prepped for it if that is how you have decided to handle your divorce.