Mediation is an excellent way to by-pass the adversarial court system and work out a resolution that works best for your family, based on your own sense of what is right and fair as opposed to what a stranger (a Judge) believes is right and fair.
The other benefits of mediation are:
- It is a completely voluntary process.
- Parties can leave mediation at any time.
- You come to an agreement based on your own efforts and sense of fairness.
- If children are involved, it keeps the focus on their best interests.
- It may reduce future conflict by improving parties' communication and problem solving skills.
- It is often much much less costly than litigation and is faster and simpler than the Court process.
- Mediation is significantly less formal than court and often much less stressful.
- You can keep your affairs private. Court is a public forum. Mediation is private.
- Where children are involved, the focus is kept on the best interests of the children.
- You have a direct say on the outcome in a much less adversarial setting and atmosphere.
- You can speak directly to your spouse about the issues between you.
- Lessening tensions and removing an adversarial atmosphere.
- You make the decisions as opposed to Judges who may not be familiar with family law and certainly do not know you and your family.
