Simple Divorce Papers

Mediation is a process where a trained professional helps spouses resolve any disagreements by negotiation. Judges, lawyers, and counselors now agree that mediation is a better way to resolve disputes between family members than going to court in a vast majority of cases. Here is a list of advantages of mediation over litigation as a way of resolving disputes: 

• Mediation is generally less costly than litigation.
• It usually takes much less time to schedule and complete mediation than to get your case heard in court.
• It is more flexible and can be scheduled for times more convenient for everyone.
• It takes place in a neutral non-court setting where most people are more comfortable.
• Sessions take place in private. There is no need to air grievances in a public setting.
• Matters discussed can almost always be kept confidential.
• It keeps the lines of communication between you and your ex-partner open.
• It will help you identify and clarify the issues, reduce misunderstandings, enhance mutual interests, and will usually result in an agreement everyone can live with.
• It is a simple process and is more likely to result in a practical, realistic solution to the dispute.
• It lets you deal with the root of the problems, not just the problems themselves. This prevents new problems from arising.
• It lets you have your say without needing to worry about formal legal procedures and rules of evidence.
• It replaces the adversarial win-lose courtroom setting with a neutral setting based on cooperative problem solving.
• The peaceful resolution of disputes through mediation prevents problems from escalating out of control. There is no mud slinging, name calling or no-holds-barred court hearings.
• It reduces the importance of fault finding. This prevents the build up of hostility between you and your ex-partner.
• It allows you to make your own agreements for yourselves rather than relying on others to negotiate for you. 
• Agreements reached through mediation can be much more detailed and resolve many more problems than court orders can. 
• It allows you greater control over the outcome of your dispute. It eliminates the risk that the outcome will be something you will find completely unacceptable.
• The control you can exercise through mediation allows you to tailor your agreement to your own individual needs rather than being forced to accept standard solutions imposed by a court.
• It is highly effective and is able to resolve the vast majority of disputes.
• People who resolve their disputes through mediation are usually more satisfied with the outcome than those who go to court.
• More people abide by agreements reached by this method than they do court orders.
• Ex-partners who have resolved their dispute through mediation can often continue to work together in the best interests of their children.
• Those who have engaged each other in contentious litigation often cannot.
• It helps you make your agreement easier to implement by covering all the details including how decisions will be made in the future.
• In mediation, negotiation is based on your interests rather than your positions. This leads to resolutions which are in everyone’s interest and can turn a win-lose situation into a win-win situation.
• Agreements reached through this process usually include a means of dealing with disputes which may arise in the future. These usually enable you and your ex-partner to continue to use a cooperative problem-solving approach rather than going to court.