Divorce litigation is sometimes necessary if spouses cannot agree on the terms of their split. Spouses can ask a judge to hear each of their perspectives and then apply state law to the situation.
They also have the option of finding ways to resolve disagreements outside of court. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution. Those struggling to resolve property division or custody matters in a divorce might decide they want to sit down with a mediator to work through their disagreements.
The idea of paying for an outside professional in addition to the attorneys representing each spouse may at first seem like an unnecessary expense. However, successful divorce mediation can actually help control the costs of divorce.
Litigation is quite expensive
When looking at the average cost of divorce, conflict often leads to more expensive divorces. The more issues on which the spouses disagree, the more they may have to pay to settle everything. Especially in scenarios where spouses litigate their disputes about divorce terms, the final cost for the divorce can be multiple times higher than in scenarios where they amicably settle outside of court.
Mediation is technically another expense, but it may ultimately be an investment that reduces the final price tag for divorce proceedings. Spouses who navigate mediation effectively can pursue an uncontested divorce, thereby saving time in court and money.
Spouses who are able to settle their disputes outside of court can reduce their costs and take greater control of the divorce process. Exploring current disagreements with a skilled legal team can help people determine if divorce mediation might be a reasonable solution for their circumstances.