Many types of disputes, perhaps most notably divorce, but many others as well, can be resolved through mediation. Mediation is a process in which disputing parties discuss their issues with help from a trained, third party mediator and ultimately come to a settlement that they both agree upon. Today on the Mediated Online Solutions blog, we’re looking at the top reasons to choose mediation over traditional dispute resolution methods like litigation.
1. Productive conversations
A trained and qualified mediator can prevent your conversations from going off the rails and veering into less useful territory. With mediation, you get the opportunity to really discuss your goals and opinions with the understanding that you won’t agree on everything, but you might discover some common ground that can lead you to a more beneficial solution.
2. The chance to make informed decisions
YOU make the decisions instead of leaving your fate in the hands of a stranger in a robe. When you work with a neutral mediator, he or she can guide you through aspects of your dispute that may not have been on your radar before. They can help you consider repercussions of your decisions that never occurred to you so that you are able to make the most informed, educated decisions possible. You are also able to reflect on your options in a less tense environment.
3. Personalized process
In court, highly personal parts of your life, such as property division and child custody, are determined based on impersonal factors like past legal precedent, statutory guidelines, and a stranger’s assessment of your child’s best interests. You know your family and your situation better than any outsider. Choosing mediation allows you to ensure that the outcomes decided upon reflect your family’s actual needs in a personalized manner.
4. Input from experts
Through the mediation process, you can get guidance from professionals for many aspects of disputes. Some experts who may be involved are therapists and financial advisors. It is up to you how much of a role these professionals will or won’t play, depending on your needs.
5. Control
Ultimately, when you choose mediation, the final decisions regarding your dispute are in your hands. Your fingerprints will be all over the outcomes. Again, this helps you avoid leaving the details of your life — property division and child custody — to the discretion of a stranger who doesn’t really know you or your family.
6. Creating a Framework for Continued Communications
You will learn how to be a better collaborator through the mediation process. You will learn what concerns are most important to you and which you are comfortable with letting go. You will also make a plan for continuing constructive discussions in the future, setting you up for continued success.
Questions?
If you have any questions about mediation in general or our service in particular, the Mediated Online Solutions team encourages you to reach out. Contact us today and let’s get a conversation going.
