For many working individuals, it can be nearly impossible to find time during the business day to do anything related to their personal lives. You are probably familiar with the struggle, as you, for example may have to cram a trip to the bank, the post-office, and your accountant’s office all into your lunch hour. Add in a doctor’s or dentist appointment and forget it; you will probably need to take a day off work. If you are considering a divorce, your scheduling challenges are just beginning, no matter how busy you already may be. Many law firms and, of course, the courts are only available during “normal business hours,” typically between 8 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday. With such limitations, how can you be expected to make any progress in your divorce while maintaining a full-time job? Fortunately, divorce mediation may provide a solution.

Increased Flexibility

Mediation in a divorce case can offer a number of possible benefits, including reduced stress, lower costs, and increased compliance with a negotiated settlement compared to a litigated judgment. For many couples, however, the customizable schedule of the mediation process is extremely attractive. To move forward in a litigated divorce, you and your spouse must each meet with your respective attorneys, file your motions with the court, wait for a court date to be determined, then appear to argue your case, all of which takes time and must usually occur during the busiest part of your days.

As form of dispute resolution that is available in virtually every type of civil proceeding, mediation typically allows competing parties the opportunity to hammer out an agreement that reasonably meets the needs of everyone involved. This holds true in a large number of arenas, including personal injury concerns, business disputes, and, of course, divorce and family law. Perhaps the biggest advantage to seeking mediation in your divorce or child-related matter your ability to be clearly heard throughout the process, a luxury not necessarily afforded in many court-handled cases.

Strict Legal Guidelines

While the statutes regarding divorce and family law are constantly being updated to allow for more individual consideration, the fact of the matter is that a court can only do so much. A presiding judge is expected to take into account an ever-growing list of circumstantial considerations, which may include those related to each spouse and the children involved. To truly appreciate a family’s situation, a judge would need to review the case for hours and hours, discussing intimate details with each party, and doing so is clearly not a realistic expectation. Thus, court decisions are often based on a very limited understanding of the facts, and only those each party remembers to include in presented documents.

According to a recent study by the Pennsylvania State University and chronicled by edivorcestatistics.com, women reveal that growing apart and losing common ground with their spouses remains one of the top five reasons most consider contacting a divorce attorney.

Surprisingly, more couples are turning to divorce mediation as a means to dissolve a lackluster marriage. It is less intrusive than formal divorce proceedings and may ease the pain of filing for divorce. However, debunking some of the myths of mediation, prior to contacting a mediation divorce attorney, may prove helpful in the end. A recent article highlights the misconceptions attached to divorce mediation. And if you are considering divorce and your personal situation does not involve physical or emotional abuse, substance abuse problems, or hidden personal assets, divorce mediation may be the right choice for you.

Choosing a Mediator