The thought of having to go through the divorce process may be unappealing to you, as divorce is often a contentious process. This is especially true if you and your spouse have already had trouble reconciling your differences prior to filing divorce papers.
Fortunately, not every divorce proceeding in New Jersey has to be filled with angst and infighting. Mediation makes it possible to end your marriage with as little conflict as possible when addressing matters such as asset division and alimony.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a conflict resolution process that is informal and involves a third party who is neutral and independent. Through this process, you and your spouse will have the chance to talk about your issues, such as splitting your property, sort out your areas of misunderstanding and pinpoint areas where you both agree. This amicable negotiation is often difficult to do in traditional divorce litigation.
Mediation is usually voluntary. Unlike a judge in a lawsuit, your mediator does not have the authority to make a final decision for you and your spouse unless both of you agree that the mediator should have this power.
Why choose mediation over litigation?
Mediation offers several benefits, including the fact that it is faster than going to trial. It usually takes just a few days or weeks, whereas lawsuits may take a few months or longer. For this reason, mediation can be an excellent option if you and your future ex are interested in splitting up quickly and moving on with your individual lives.
Another advantage of mediation is that it is less expensive than traditional litigation. Mediation additionally offers the benefit of being less formal, so both parties can be more engaged in the process rather than having the court drive the process with a large number of procedures and rules that are designed to separate the two parties.
Another benefit of mediation
Another major advantage of mediation is that it helps with preserving relationships. The process is more collaborative than adversarial, so both you and your future ex can end your marriage on as positive a note as possible. Because mediation involves working toward and achieving a mutually satisfactory divorce settlement, both of you may feel more confident about working out your differences together in the future as well, particularly if you will co-parent.