Divorce Litigation is….
Stressful.
Expensive.
Slow.
Public.
Adversarial.
And the Judge makes all the decisions.
Divorce Mediation is….
Affordable.
Manageable.
Faster.
Confidential.
Collaborative.
And you and your spouse make all the decisions.
What is Modern Divorce Mediation?
Modern Divorce Mediation is a confidential process that helps couples negotiate the terms of their divorce amicably, without litigation, leading to a quicker and less costly, less stressful divorce.
In a Modern Divorce Mediation, the parties meet with a neutral third‑party mediator who assists them in reviewing applicable divorce law, taking inventory of the marital assets, considering the best interest of the children, and negotiating and agreeing upon the terms of their divorce. The mediator does not function as a judge and does not make decisions for the parties. The mediator does not represent either party and does not give legal advice. That’s one of the many advantages of Modern Divorce Mediation; the parties make decisions they feel are in their best interest, and in the best interest of their children, not a judge who doesn’t know them or their children.
On average, between 95-99% of all divorces are eventually resolved by agreement. The goal of Modern Divorce Mediation is to assist the parties in reaching that resolution much faster, and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional divorce litigation.
Cost
The average cost of a traditional litigated divorce in the U.S. is between $10,000 - $20,000 for each party, but the actual cost can far surpass that and often does.
Although most of that cost goes to pay attorneys whose job it is to utilize and manipulate the adversarial system to their client’s advantage, and to the disadvantage of the opposite party, approximately 95-99% of all divorce cases are eventually settled.
The financial, mental and emotional cost incurred in a traditional litigated divorce can take years, or even a lifetime to overcome.
With Modern Divorce Mediation, the goal is to reach an agreement resolving all issues faster, economically, with less stress, less animosity and more cooperation between the parties.
Time
The average traditional litigated divorce in the U.S. takes between 6 months and 3 years.
With Modern Divorce Mediation, couples can reach a final settlement and resolution of all issues in an average of 2-6 sessions, often within 2-3 months.
Modern Divorce Mediation is a productive, fast-tract solution utilizing effective communication to expedite the settlement process.
Modern Divorce Mediation’s goal is to move the process along effectively so that both parties can start their individual lives more expeditiously and in a positive fashion.
Privacy
Modern Divorce Mediation is conducted privately, not in a public courtroom.
All communications disclosed during Divorce Mediation are completely confidential and not subject to public disclosure, as are all negotiations.
Conversely, all documents and testimony developed during a traditional litigated divorce are generally public.
Co-Parenting
The most important step in a separation is the emotional transition for the child(ren) and the new landscape of being in separate households.
Learning to positively and respectfully co-parent is a challenge in a traditional litigated divorce due to the adversarial nature of the proceeding, which almost always results in the parents being life-long adversaries.
Divorce Mediation teaches the parties to effectively and respectfully communicate with each other, and to peacefully resolve their differences, thus fostering a healthy co-parenting relationship and providing a strong foundation in a new landscape for their children.
