If you’re looking for a family mediator, you’re probably embroiled in a bitter and harrowing divorce. Working towards an amicable and mutually favorable divorce settlement may be one of the most challenging endeavors in life. However, divorce comes with difficult emotions and numerous struggles as both sides fail to reach an agreement.
In such situations, it’s wise to engage the support of a professional mediator to resolve conflicts and work out a settlement. There’s so much to consider, such as dividing assets, selling the house, and most importantly, child custody. Divorces that involve child custody are more like to get drawn-out and prolonged over disagreements.
Couples turn to family mediation to discuss their issues and differences with the support of a compassionate professional. Interestingly, family mediation is much more affordable and effective than a heated courtroom battle. But there are several factors that you need to consider before hiring a family mediation service.
Keep reading to equip yourself with valuable information to make the process easier and simpler.
Will Mediation Help?
Before you embark on the research and hiring process, it’s essential to examine the potential benefits of mediation. Will mediation prove helpful for your case? Are you and your partner good candidates for mediation and open communication? Mediation can work for people who need help expressing and articulating themselves.
But it will not serve people who are stubbornly unwilling to understand and accommodate each other. The legal experts at Claire Samuels Law explain that co-parents are great candidates for family mediation. You see, co-parents have a vested interest in finalizing matters and making decisions to support their children’s wellbeing.
Couples who are being dishonest and deceitful in financial matters will not benefit from mediation. Settling financials and dividing assets are significant aspects of a divorce settlement. They are also the most complicated aspects, especially if one party is withholding information. In complex and challenging cases, it’s advisable to seek out a more effective intervention through court.
History of Domestic Violence & Abuse
Are you filing for divorce after a long and agonizing history of domestic violence and abuse? Or perhaps, you’re seeking mediation to deter a partner who’s suing for domestic violence? In both cases, mediation is not a viable option. A mediator does not have the authority or capacity to mediate cases that involve a history of physical abuse.
A mediator only serves the purpose of facilitating unified and accessible communication. However, only a credible attorney and a judge can help the victim secure a safe future for themselves and their children. Besides, a serving domestic violence Lawyer Staten Island opines that such cases are better left with the attorneys who have experience in the field. Meaning, a divorce lawyer might not be a good choice for dealing with domestic abuse cases.
Qualities & Traits to Consider
What qualities and traits should you look for in a mediator? Essentially, a mediator will help you and your partner reach a mutually favorable agreement by facilitating communication. The mediator will ensure that both parties have a chance to express their grievances and demands. Mediators help ensure balanced arguments and prevent one individual from monopolizing the conversation.
Various traits make meditators effective and successful at handling complex cases. First and foremost, mediators are patient and compassionate listeners. They listen patiently and do their best to understand the grievances of both parties. They are inquisitive and actively ask questions to understand the situation and a couple’s history.
Patience is indeed their winning quality, especially in case of long-drawn and bitter arguments. They work tirelessly, patiently, and devotedly to help people resolve their differences and come to a settlement. Experienced mediators summarize facts and stories rather than fixating on insignificant details.
They have a knack for identifying areas of agreement and positivity to facilitate reconciliation and open communication. They dig deep behind the raw emotions and bitterness to find essential values and perspectives for both parties. These traits and qualities prove immensely helpful in making people regard the situation from a more positive outlook.
Are you Comfortable & Connecting?
Is your mediator empathetic, compassionate, and understanding of your plight? Or do you find them siding with the abusive patterns and psychological manipulation of your partner?
In many cases, people find mediators hired by the other party are dismissive and oblivious to their suffering. If such is the case, be sure to end the sessions and engage another mediator that you’re comfortable with.
Comfort and connection are the two most essential needs a mediator must fulfill to achieve speedy conflict resolution. If you or your partner feel vulnerable or threatened by the mediator, the sessions won’t prove helpful. Mediators who are overly opinionated or take sides on matters cannot ensure effective results. But instead, they will aggravate the conflict by giving birth to more issues with their biased opinions.
It’s essential to hire a mediator who makes you feel comfortable and relaxed as you open up about personal details. Discussing the intimate details of your relationship and sharing your marital struggles isn’t easy. In fact, it is one of the most challenging ordeals of one’s life. It would be best to have all the support you can get, as hiring the right mediator is a step forward towards an amicable divorce settlement.
The Right Setting
Unlike courtroom battles, the mediation process takes place in an ambient, comfortable, and relaxing environment. These sessions are not formal like courtroom settings. But instead, mediators place their clients in environments that facilitate an open and friendly conversation. Usually, these rooms are brightly lit with vibrant plants and harmonious décor to set the right ambiance.
It may seem frivolous and unrelated, but mediation only works when both parties are relaxed, comfortable, and willing to communicate. Therefore, ambiance and environment matter a great deal. Be sure to work with your mediator to create the right setting that allows comfort and relaxation.
Conclusion
Divorce comes with a series of unpleasant surprises, but if you follow these tips, your mediation can prove immensely helpful. Just make sure that your case is applicable for mediation. There’s no point in delaying legal proceedings with mediation if there’s little potential for conflict resolution outside the courtroom.
We strongly advise victims of domestic abuse and child abuse to avoid seeking mediation. In such cases, abusers often monopolize the conversation, and victims succumb out of fear and pressure. Remember, mediation will only benefit if you and your partner are suitable candidates for arbitration. A courtroom battle may seem emotionally draining, but sometimes, it’s the only solution to voice your concerns