A divorce can be a contentious endeavor or it can be a respectful process. It is up to you and your ex to decide how the divorce is going to go. Typically, if you and your ex can work together to come up with the terms of the divorce, you might be able to get everything taken care of a bit faster.
Divorce mediation is one option that you have when you are ending a marriage. In this type of divorce, you and your ex work with the help of an impartial third party to come up with the divorce settlement.
Go into the meetings with a plan
Having a plan lessens some of the stress when you go into a mediation session. When you don’t feel as stressed, you might be able to remain calm even if your ex tries to irk your nerves. If you can, make a list about what you are willing to negotiate on so that you can refer to it. You may also want to make a list of what you are going to hold firm on no matter what.
Use the mediator’s services
The mediator can try to keep things on track. If things are starting to stray off topic or if you find that you just can’t work with your ex, the mediator can act as a go-between so that the issues can still be hashed out. Make sure that you allow the mediator to work. These are trained individuals who can come up with solutions in contentious divorces.
Try to make things work
There might be some issues on which you and your ex just can’t see eye-to-eye. Trying to work out these issues, such as those related to child custody or property division, might be hard. Putting in the effort now can help you avoid having to prepare for court and going through the process.
Keep your business private
Remember that court records from divorces are largely public documents. Working with a mediator and getting everything handled without having a trial can keep your private business private. This is often something that parents appreciate.
Ultimately, you have to do what you feel is best for your divorce. You should remember that there are options at almost every step of the way from the initial filing through the finalization. Each option comes with results that you should consider before you make any decision.