Tips to Make Mediation Work During Your Divorce
Divorce Mediation Lawyer Minnesota
When most people think about divorce, they think of long battles in court to divvy up their assets and figure out who gets the children. However, that isn’t always the best answer. Mediation can be a great way to get divorced without all of the drama, as long as both sides are ready to compromise.
That being said, it isn’t easy. Here are some tips to make mediation work for you and your divorce.
The mediator that you choose is very important. You are going to need to feel comfortable talking about things that may be uncomfortable to talk about during this time so it is important that you choose someone that you feel like you can trust.
Though there are many mediators out there, you are going to want to choose someone who has helped others through similar situations. Not every mediator can help you with certain financial situations or if there are children involved so you need to talk to several before you can choose the right one to help you through this time.
Before you even get started, you need to have all of your paperwork ready. Sometimes the worst part of divorce and mediation is getting all of the paperwork together. It takes a lot of time to collect paperwork on your mortgage, the insurance, and any retirement accounts. If you have more than one home, you are going to need the information for each of them.
You can’t start dividing up your assets until you have all of this together. It is going to cost you more if you start mediation and then have to stop several times to get more paperwork together.
It is important that you know what you want, need, and what are deal breakers. Though you may want everything, the truth is that it isn’t going to happen. You are going to have to compromise in order to come up with a solution that you both can live with.
For that reason, you need to know what you really need, what you would like, and what you are unwilling to compromise about. Even if you feel like you need the house, is it really worth fighting over? Could you even afford it if you are the one who has to make the payments? When it comes to your children, though you may want them every day, it might not be realistic for everyone’s schedule.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a break. There is no doubt about it. Going through a divorce is hard and trying to decide who should get what can really take it out of you. Your emotions may get the best of you, making it hard to come up with a compromise.
For this reason, you should never feel bad if you need to take a break. Even if you just walk outside to get some fresh air, it can help you come back with a clearer head. Nothing can get solved if you are too upset to deal with it.
Mediation is never easy. However, if you have the right person helping you, it can make a world of difference. Take your time and find someone that you are completely comfortable with before you get started. You also need to get all of your paperwork in order before you start. If not, you are going to waste time going back and forth trying to get everything together. You simply can’t divide your assets if you don’t know what they are!
Contact us for all of your legal needs. We will be able to help you decide whether or not mediation is right for you. Either way, we will help you through this difficult time.