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What is Mediation and Why it is Beneficial to Divorcing Couples?
When trying to discuss matters associated with divorces such as assets and child custody, a one-on-one with your spouse may not be the best way to come to any sort of agreement with one another. The fact is, you both are likely feeling many different emotions and being around each other alone might only cause a conflict to arise and no agreement to be reached. To help prevent this from happening, one way you and your spouse can make decisions about pressing matters is to do so through mediation.
“Mediation is a way for people who are having a dispute to talk about their issues and concerns and to make decisions about the dispute with the help of another person (called a mediator)” [Source: Florida Courts]. Many individuals who are worried they won’t last two seconds in a room with their spouse without arguing would benefit from mediation along with couples who simply cannot agree on a matter.
Benefits of Mediation
Aside from mediation serving as an avenue for you and your spouse to come to terms on things like child support, child custody, and even the division of assets, there are other benefits to going through it. Some of these benefits include:
- The agreements made in mediation are enforceable. Rather than having a judge who has hundreds of cases on their docket make the decision for you, you and your spouse are assisted with the help of a mediator to make decisions about your lives in private. And when you both can decide on how something is going to be settled, “the agreement must be put into writing and signed by the parties.” This written agreement would become a “legally binding document, which is enforceable by the court.”
- Mediation may help you save time and money. Rather than having to take your case through the formal trial process, you and your spouse can settle your dispute together and without the help of a judge. Not only will this help reduce the court costs that are generally associated with a divorce, but it can help get your divorce finalized quicker.
- Mediation may help you gain a better understanding as to why the conflict arose in the first place. When going through a divorce, it is common for a partner to not want to take the time to sit down with their ex-partner or listen to what they have to say. The reason being is that once the divorce process begins, many individuals hold grudges toward their soon-to-be ex-spouse while others are resentful of them for the pain they have caused them to suffer with. However, this lack of communication doesn’t make settling disputes easier, but instead, more difficult. Now, if you choose to go through mediation, you may actually learn why your ex-partner is contesting what you are demanding or why they are acting in the manner that they are. Perhaps once you understand this then the two of you can come to an agreement and settle the matter.
While mediation might not be for every couple, it can definitely benefit those who find themselves arguing about each and every matter they must agree upon together. And if this is what you are currently dealing with and you live in South Florida, you are encouraged to contact Hollywood, FL divorce mediation attorney Jodie Bassichis at 954-963-7300. With the help our firm can provide, you can sure your disputes will be settled and you on your way to beginning this new chapter of your life.
Jodie Bassichis, PA can be reached at:
4700 Sheridan Street, Suite J
Hollywood, Florida 33021
954-963-7300
jbassichislaw@gmail.com
www.FloridaDivorceSource.com