There are many misconceptions about divorce mediation, and believing falsehoods prevents you from taking advantage of one of the best ways to reach an amicable agreement. In California, under certain circumstances you may be required to seek mediation services before you take your divorce to court, or you may just be interested in using this method to start working on your settlement right away. Knowing the truth about what mediation is and how it works can help you plan for the best outcome for your divorce. Here, the experts from Divorce Options San Diego, divorce mediators couples rely on for creative solutions that support amicable divorces, dispel some of the most common myths about divorce mediation.
1. Mediation Is for People Who Get Along
Mediation is designed to reduce conflict during divorce negotiations, so you don’t necessarily have to start out on extremely friendly terms. Your mediator knows how to help people in high-conflict relationships begin the process of communicating effectively about each decision they need to make.
2. It’s Pointless if You Don’t Reach an Agreement
Some people think mediation is a failure if they don’t resolve every issue. This is another myth that can bog down your divorce negotiations. Some people use mediation for the issues they know they can reach agreement on, such as child custody. If necessary, they can then take the case to court for things they aren’t able to settle together. This method helps you speed up the divorce process while giving you more control over the issues you can reach agreement on.
3. You Don’t Get to Have a Lawyer
Mediators work differently from lawyers because they don’t take sides. If you prefer to consult with a lawyer about certain decisions, you can seek legal counsel. Some people find it preferable to have both a lawyer and a mediator helping them with their divorce. Mediators also welcome you to seek legal counsel if it will help you feel more confident when you work through the negotiation process.
At Divorce Options San Diego, we never litigate. We do not do adversarial work, and we never represent one spouse against another. We empower divorcing spouses to own their divorce and craft sustainable, effective mutual agreements that will last long after the divorce is finalized. We are a one-stop shop providing a bundle of essential divorce services, including paperwork, court documents, and financial analysis. We can help you complete your divorce from beginning to end.
4. You End Up Compromising Too Much
You don’t have to agree to anything in mediation unless you feel completely comfortable. There will be some compromising involved, but that also happens in court. The difference with mediation is that you get to choose divorce san diego where and how you compromise rather than having a judge tell you how things are going to go.
5. It Takes Too Long
Divorce can sometimes feel like a lengthy process, but mediation can shorten it. In most cases, you can complete mediation long before your six-month waiting period for the divorce is over, which gives you a head start on getting your divorced finalized.divorce mediation san diego If you can reach agreement on all the required decisions, you can also completely skip going to court, so you finish the whole process faster.divorce san diego
6. The Mediator Makes the Decisions
Your divorce mediator is an asset when it comes to working through difficult decisions with your spouse. While the mediator will help you understand what’s required by law, such as planning for child support, he or she won’t tell you what you have to do. In the end, the mediator’s primary role is helping you reduce conflict and communicate well with your spouse so you can make mutually acceptable decisions together.
When divorcing couples are looking for opportunities to make the process as smooth, respectful, and amicable as possible, there’s a fantastic alternative to the animosity and high costs of traditional divorce: divorce mediation. Couples trust Divorce Options San Diego’s experienced divorce mediators to handle every aspect of their divorces quickly and with compassion. All the practical, legal, financial,divorce mediation san diego and psychological aspects of fair, respectful divorce agreements can be managed by our experienced, trustworthy mediators. To learn how San Diego divorce mediation might be the right choice for you, call the expert mediators at Divorce Options San Diego today at 858-281-2628.
