Some important aspects of mediation:
- Mediation is voluntary. Those who participate must choose to participate. As a result mediation can be ended, by either party, at any time.
- The parties agree to the resolution of the dispute. No one comes out of mediation with an order to do something they have not agreed to.
- All agreements reached in mediation are voluntary. Since the agreements are reached with the full cooperation and involvement of the parties, adherence is greater than judgments rendered through the litigation divorce.
- An effective mediator facilitates communication. Often those who come to mediation are absolutely unable to discuss anything related to the divorce or relationship calmly. The presence of a trained neutral third party tends to mitigate the communication difficulties, and an effective mediator actively guides the parties towards a cooperative solution.
- Mediation is cost effective. A mediated divorce tends to be less expensive than a litigated divorce. A litigated divorce can easily cost a typical couple $15,000 to $25,000. Whereas a mediated divorce is typically resolved in 7 hours or less of mediation and result in a total cost of less than $2500 for a couple with children.
