Divorce mediators can be a nice alternative to taking your divorce through the court system. They allow you to meet with your significant other in a civil manner and work things out with a non-biased third party coordinating the entire thing for you. Remember, this can be an emotional and sometimes frustrating process, so having an all-out lawyer battle might not be in your best interest. This alternative can also be quite tricky, though. You need to make sure you’re choosing someone that represents both of your interests equally or nothing will ever be resolved. That’s why it’s so important to take the following pieces of advice into consideration when choosing the right divorce mediator.
Tips to Finding the Right Divorce Mediator
- Start with the price. Some divorce mediators will charge you by the hour or have a flat fee, but which one is best? The positive side is that, on average, mediators are actually 90% cheaper than getting your lawyers involved so you’re already saving money. That being said, it’s also not the best idea to choose the cheapest one you could find. With this, it might be in your best interest to go with someone that charges a flat fee, especially if you don’t know the divorce mediator or have had people that have used their services before, as they might be taking longer than expected working on your case
- Trust is another major factor that plays a role in choosing the right divorce mediator. You need to be able to judge whether or not you can rely on your divorce mediator to handle the situation fairly. You need someone that is fair to both parties. A few good indications of this is someone that suggests seeking outside legal advice, involves you with the legal implications of the actions you take, and someone that has a history of success under their belt.
- You may not be aware, but there are many different areas of focus for mediators. You should make sure that the mediator you are about to choose is focused in divorce and family mediation. This will give them better insight to the wants and needs of a family dynamic, instead of just the divorce aspect. They should also have a degree, certificate, or advanced training in communication or conflict resolution.
As long as your mediator has all these checked off, you have some pretty good signs that this is the right divorce mediator for you. The best thing you can do is research the history and reviews of their past work to get the inside scoop of what they can do for you.