Is Divorce Mediation Right for You?

There are many choices to be made after you decide to pursue divorce. Few, if any, are easy. One choice that you and your spouse will need to make and agree upon early in the process is regarding the means through which you will pursue divorce. There are several ways to obtain a divorce in Florida. One of these is through divorce mediation. However, this is not the right option for each situation, so the decision must be made carefully. Here are a few things to consider before choosing mediation for your divorce.

Ability to Communicate with Your Spouse

You may have heard the term amicable divorce. If you do not think that you can apply that term to your current and future situation, you may not want to consider mediation. Mediation requires the need to communicate directly with your spouse and to be in the same room with them at times during the process. If you, for any reason, do not feel comfortable speaking up for yourself or facing your spouse, mediation may not be the right means to divorce for you.

Clear Financial Understanding

Although splitting up belongings is part of any divorce, assets and liabilities must also be divided and distributed. If you do not feel you have a good understanding of your (and your spouse’s) current financial situation, the implications of dividing your assets and liabilities, and spousal and child support, you may want to consider working with a divorce attorney in a more traditional route.

Can You See the Big Picture?

It is rare for everyone to walk away from a divorce with everything they wanted from the outset. Knowing when to give and when to stand firm in a decision is important, but you will want to be able to voice why something is important to you and persuade your spouse to understand sometimes. Of course, this means you will need to compromise sometimes as well, especially in return for something you really want. Looking at the big picture and being able to compromise is necessary for a successful divorce mediation.

Divorce through mediation comes with many benefits including privacy and cost savings. You will need to hire a mediator that you and your spouse both agree upon. You may also want a divorce attorney to review your agreement and file paperwork with the court. In addition to our divorce attorneys, Wagstaff Family Law has family law mediators on staff to provide mediation services. Call us today at (727) 584-8182 to learn more about our divorce services.