Mediation is a popular and effective method of negotiating a divorce settlement. Mediation offers a fair process where you and your spouse can discuss and decide for themselves, with professional help of the mediator, arrangements for your children, financial support and the division of your property. To begin the process, you and your spouse jointly hire a neutral mediator to act as a neutral facilitator of solutions. It is important to remember that this mediator is not the attorney for either of you, and therefore is unable to give you legal advice. The mediator’s purpose is to help you and your spouse come to an agreement that you are both happy with.
One of the great aspects to mediation, is that it allows you to arrive at a resolution based on what you and our spouse think is fair, instead of what a judge may view as fair. Rather than allow a court to impose solutions based on laws that may or may not be favorable to you, mediation allows you and your spouse to control the process and make decisions for yourselves.
During a series of meetings, the mediator will help you and your spouse work out a mutually satisfactory plan that covers your children’s living arrangements, the financial needs of the family and all other issues that need a solution. You are encouraged to consult with an attorney or other advisor outside the mediation session, to help you understand your legal rights, the financial issues that may be involved, and to assist with the final terms of an agreement. The mediation process is designed to reduce the adversarial element often encountered in a divorce proceeding. Therefore, mediation can often save time and money.
Mediation itself is not a binding legal process. Once you and your spouse agree on all divorce related matters, the mediator will draft an agreement that is submitted to the court. After the court reviews the agreement, it may be approved and thereafter becomes a binding legal document, and finalizes the divorce.
To speak with a lawyer about divorce or other family law matter, contact Mavrides Law in Boston, Newton, or Quincy, MA. To schedule an initial consultation, call 617-723-9900 or contact the firm at [email protected]
