Divorce mediation can save money by avoiding most of the high costs of litigation, like excessive attorney fees, court costs, and expert witness fees. It also helps to keep a fair share of assets and can be faster than going to court to battle it out, saving both time and the associated cost.
If my spouse and I want to use a mediator instead of getting attorneys and going to war, how would that work?
Many attorneys provide mediation services or will know those that do. Prior to filing for divorce, you can schedule a mediation with an attorney or other mediator in your area. Prior to mediation, prepare a spreadsheet of all your assets and their values, and your debts. When you attend mediation, you can use your spread sheet to work on offers and counter offers between you and your spouse. A skilled mediator should be able to make sure everything that needs to be covered in your agreement is covered. If you come to an agreement, the mediator will prepare a Mediated Settlement Agreement that will be the blueprint for your Final Decree of Divorce.
Once you have your Mediated Settlement Agreement in hand you can usually find an attorney that practices family law in your area that can draft your final decree on a limited scope basis. They may also help you draft an Original Petition and a waiver of service for you to file with the Court. Once you have those three main documents, it’s fairly simple to file your divorce paperwork with the Court and get your divorce.
It is important to protect your rights during divorce, even if it is not litigated. Seeking help from an experienced divorce attorney in The Woodlands can ensure your rights and your future are protected.