Divorce Mediation Can Save You Money and Stress
June 20, 2020
Divorce cases where the couple rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars of attorneys’ fees over the course of years of litigation are not the norm. Neither are marriages that end with the couple having a calm conversation on their living room couch about how they aren’t cut out for marriage, briefly surveying which assets and debts belong to which person, filing their uncontested divorce forms through an app, and going on with their lives. The former case usually only applies to very wealthy couples, and the latter tends to apply to young couples who were married a short time, do not have children, and own very few assets. Most cases fall somewhere in the middle, but even so, you can probably avoid going to trial even if you and your spouse disagree on major issues. Divorce mediation can help you avoid the stress and high costs of litigation. The family law attorneys at Iwanyshyn & Associates in Greater Pittsburgh can help you get the most out of divorce mediation.
What Does a Mediator Do?
A divorce mediator is a professional whose educational background enables him or her to help couples going through a divorce and former couples who are co-parenting resolve their conflicts on their own terms. Over the course of several sessions, the parties meet with the mediator to discuss the problem and the outcome each person wants. In particularly complex cases, the parties might meet with the mediator separately as well as jointly, and they might even have their lawyers present. The mediator does not decide in favor of one spouse or the other; the mediator does not decide anything at all, although he or she may suggest solutions and let the parties discuss them. When the parties have reached an agreement, the mediator writes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) containing the terms the parties have agreed on. The parties then submit the MOU to the court, and the judge used it as a basis for the divorce judgment.
If it is not possible to resolve all the couple’s disputes in a single divorce hearing, judges often refer couples to mediation before deciding to set a date for trial. Most couples with minor children need the help of a mediator in order to finalize a parenting plan. If they cannot resolve their disputes in mediation, then a trial is the only option left.
Lawyers and Mediation
It is a good idea to hire a lawyer if you are participating in divorce mediation, whether you and your spouse try to work out the terms of your divorce in mediation before you file the divorce complaint or whether a judge has referred you to mediation while your case is pending. Meeting with your lawyer before, during, and after the mediation sessions can help you use the mediation process to reach an equitable and sustainable solution.
Iwanyshyn & Associates Helps Couples with Divorce Mediation
Not every divorce requires a trial, but most divorces after long marriages need mediation. Contact Iwanyshyn & Associates in Greater Pittsburgh & Western PA about your divorce mediation. 🡺 412-419-3448