Divorce is a tough time for everyone involved, especially when children are involved. Going to court and fighting for your child’s custody can take a significant toll on everyone involved. It is also time consuming and expensive. Fortunately, going to court is not the only option. Mediation is an effective alternative to traditional litigation in child custody matters.
There are a variety of reasons why mediation can be beneficial for you in reaching an agreement with your soon-to-be former spouse, including:
- Mediation is private and outside of the couple, their attorneys (if they wish for them to attend) and the mediator, no one else is present in the mediation session.
- Mediation is flexible. Sessions can be online, in person, with everyone in the same room or with each party in their own separate room or virtual space.
- Mediation is much more cost effective than spending time in court with attorneys due to the court system’s backlog of cases and their own procedures.
- Mediation is a much faster way of reaching an agreement and it can form part of the final divorce agreement.
Mediation is highly effective for solving family disputes, including child custody issues. It is important to keep in mind that the success of child custody mediation depends on several factors. The key factor is the attitude of the parents in how they approach the child custody mediation process and their cooperation.
Divorce and custody matters are painful and difficult to deal with but if both parents go into the mediation process with realistic expectations, an open mind and prioritizing the best interest of the children, it can be extremely efficient, cost-effective, and fast.