Although many New Jersey residents probably think that every divorce case is a bitter feud between two soon-to-be ex-spouses, that isn’t always the case. Some couples can actually work together, relatively speaking, in order to advance the case in a civil and purposeful way. In these types of cases, mediation of the divorce case can have many distinct advantages as opposed to courtroom litigation.
For example, one of the most significant advantages of divorce mediation is the time and financial resources that can be saved, if the mediation is productive. By avoiding the need to engage a court with motions and hearings about a variety of divorce topics, the divorcing couple can work to streamline the entire process. During a mediation session, the divorcing couple can exchange ideas about how best to address and finalize issues such as property division, child support, child custody and alimony.
Couples who choose to use mediation in their divorce case can also save their emotional health. The stress level in a mediation session is undeniably less than a courtroom saga. A mediator is not there to hear legal arguments and make rulings. Rather, the mediator is intended to help facilitate ideas when snags occur and enable a smooth transition through the case to the end, with the case resolved with mutually agreeable terms submitted to the court for approval.
While there are many advantages to divorce mediation, this process isn’t for everyone. There are certain elements that may be present in a relationship – such as domestic violence or child abuse – which render mediation less likely to be successful. New Jersey residents may want to get more information about their own unique divorce case to see if mediation might be a viable option.