Is Mediation Right for You and Are You Both Ready?

While everyone can benefit from divorce mediation, how do you know if mediation is right for you and if you’re both ready to mediate?

Divorce Mediation is right for you and your spouse if…

  • You both have made the decision to divorce – chances are divorce is not a decision you came to easily or took lightly but sometimes, one party may want a divorce while the other one doesn’t. For divorce mediation to be effective, both parties need to agree that their marriage is over and that they wish to move forward separately.
  • You’re both willing to mediate – as mediation is a voluntary process, I can’t force either of you to come to mediation. What I can do is explain that if one of you wants a divorce, then sadly, both of you are getting a divorce and you now have a choice in how it will proceed.
  • You don’t want to spend a lot of money on your divorce – mediation is a cost-effective solution which provides you with the exact same result at a fraction of the cost as if you hired an attorney and litigated or engaged in a collaborative divorce proceeding.

    • Divorce Mediation is not right for you and your spouse if…

    • One of you wants a divorce and one of you doesn’t – as a divorce mediator in NJ, there is nothing I can do to force your spouse to accept the marriage is over and come to mediation. You both need to be in agreement that divorce is the next step and there is no chance of repairing your relationship. If you do think there is a chance to reconcile, I’m always happy to lose a potential client and can refer you to counselors who may be able to help.
    • You want to prolong the fight – it’s important to recognize that mediation is not counseling so the time for arguing is over. Mediation should not be used as another forum to air old grievances but rather a place to look forward to the future.
    • You’re looking for a “cheap” divorce – while mediation is much less costly than hiring an attorney or using a collaborative divorce proceeding, mediation is not a “$399 do-it-yourself divorce” you see advertised on the Internet. It is a complete and thorough process which covers all aspects of your divorce providing you with all the relevant information you need to make informed decisions. Unlike the book of forms you’ll get when you order that divorce kit, divorce mediation provides a custom solution for both of you and your unique situation.

     
    If mediation sounds right for you and your spouse, please give us a call at (908) 864-2177 or e-mail us and we’d be happy to set up a consultation to learn more about your unique situation and answer any question you may have about divorce, mediation or how mediation can benefit you and your family.