In divorce mediation, you and your partner make all of the decisions…. so what is the role of the divorce mediator in the mediation process?
A divorce mediator is there to guide you and your spouse through negotiations and find mutually agreeable solutions to all aspects of your divorce, from property settlement to child custody to spousal support to financial disputes. A divorce mediator is a neutral participant who acts as a facilitator.
A divorce mediator will help you and your spouse:
• A divorce mediator will help you stay on topic. Often you and your spouse have years of history together… it is normal for anger and other negative emotions to seep into conversations. A mediator helps facilitate communication, provide guidance, and prevent you from devolving into arguments or petty discussions.
• A divorce mediator will offer impartial information and opinions. It can be difficult to step back from your view of the situation or see an argument from the other person’s perspective. A mediator can help you understand how your spouse feels and help settle arguments that you and your partner have not previously been able to settle.
• A divorce mediator offers ideas and possible solutions. An experienced mediator has seen hundreds of couples through this process, and can help you by offering you options that have worked for other families.
• A divorce mediator provides a safe, neutral environment to discuss complex issues/concerns. It can be challenging to bring up sensitive topics, and even more-so with the partner you are separating from. Divorce mediation gives both people a fair chance to bring up challenging, painful subjects, and cultivate a healthy dialogue between you.