Mediation and Your Pennsylvania Divorce
May 27, 2020
Courtroom trials form the climactic scenes of many famous movies, and these fictional depictions of litigation, whether they depicted civil or criminal courts, were what first inspired many of today’s lawyers to go into the legal profession. Anyone old enough to remember the summer of 1995 will remember that millions of people were glued to their television sets, watching the real-life criminal trial of O.J. Simpson, who was facing charges for murder. Trials, true or fictional, are interesting to watch and read about as long as the case does not relate to you directly, but if you are a party in a lawsuit, the trial and the months of preparation leading up to it are extremely stressful. In the end, it is the judge who gets to decide something important about your future; you get to present your case, but after you do, it is out of your control. Going to trial is the worst-case scenario in a divorce case. The family law attorneys at Iwanyshyn & Associates can help you settle your divorce case without going to trial, and if it is not possible to avoid litigation, will help you come away from your divorce on terms favorable to you.
Mediation Can Save You Money and Stress in a Divorce
In mediation, a mediator meets with you and your spouse to help you reach an agreement about the terms of your divorce. Not all mediators are lawyers; in fact, they come from a wide variety of professional backgrounds, including social workers, teachers, and mental health counselors. Everything you say in a mediation session is confidential; you and your spouse discuss your dispute in the presence of the mediator, who guides the discussion toward a resolution. It is possible to request that the mediator meet with you and your spouse separately at some point during the mediation process. The mediator does not issue a decision like a judge does; it is you and your spouse who decide. Once you reach a decision, the judge will use it as the basis of a court order. You and your spouse may determine, during mediation, that there is no solution that would satisfy both of you and that letting a judge decide is the only solution.
Iwanyshyn & Associates Helps You Avoid a Costly Divorce Battle
Your family law attorney can help guide you through the mediation process. Contact Iwanyshyn & Associates in Pittsburgh about divorce cases.
