You undoubtedly have heard some divorce horror stories from your friends, coworkers or relatives. While it is true some marriages end in bitter and protracted court battles, many couples pursue friendlier divorces. That is, rather than going through a long court fight, a growing number of divorcing spouses opt for mediation or another type of alternate dispute resolution.
Divorce mediation is a collaborative process where both spouses work together to find solutions to divorce-related issues, such as property division or child custody. If your soon-to-be ex-spouse has not yet decided to try mediation, watch for the following three signs to know whether he or she may be amenable to it.
1. Your spouse does not want to waste money
Whether you go through traditional litigation or pursue mediation, your divorce is imminent. If your husband or wife wants to save money to spend on his or her post-divorce life, a court fight may not make much sense. That is, mediation is often considerably less expensive than going to trial.
2. Your spouse worries about the kids
While all divorces affect children in some ways, a nasty legal fight may cause the young ones in your family to develop anger, resentment, depression or even behavioral issues. If your spouse worries about the emotional well-being of the kids, ending your marriage with mediation may make sense. After all, with mediation, your children see you and their other parent working together in a proactive way.
3. Your spouse agrees with you
If you and your husband or wife have already basically decided how your divorce should look, you may not want to allow trial lawyers to complicate the process. A skilled mediator can help you figure out the fine details or find common ground on any outstanding matters.
Ultimately, if you believe your spouse may be open to trying divorce mediation, giving the process a try may be beneficial for every member of your family.