Preparing Yourself for Mediation Tips – Checklist

If you’re doing mediation, your choice of mediator is crucial. Look for a professional who has an office around your area. Check their experience. Review their website and reviews, if possible. Find out what resources (other professionals, for example) they use. A good divorce mediator will work within a network, relying on other professionals in the field to give you the greatest results.

Also find out what they charge. Some will provide services at a flat rate while others charge on an hourly basis. An expert mediation can cost you from $4,000 to $7,000. This cost will be split between the parties. You can discuss the various payment options with your chosen mediator. This is one of those divorce mediation strategies and techniques that can help you save money in the long run.

The goal of divorce mediation is to have your divorce amicably resolved. This means a fair and reasonable division of assets. It also means childcare you can both be happy with. Remember, there will be times that you don’t get exactly what you want, and there will be times that you will need to give up some things. Any preconceived notion regarding how you want such a case to be resolved in your favour should be dropped from this moment.

Try not to get frustrated. This is very important and shouldn’t be ignored in any way. Divorce is an emotional process, but as difficult as it may be, try not to let your emotions get the better of you. Such feelings aren’t going to help the situation in any way. Don’t forget that this process is basically about getting your custodial and financial issues worked out instead of both parties blaming and accusing each other. Try your hardest to maintain a relationship that is civil with your spouse. This isn’t the time to take that car from him/her just because the title is in your name. Until every issue is settled, ensure that the status quo is maintained.

With non-monetary assets, values will need to be determined. Be realistic with these valuations, or use a professional. Then you’ll need to decide what is happening with these assets.

The matrimonial home is the perfect example. The starting point is a market appraisal or analysis. For example, are you selling or will one party be living in the house and paying all the expenses? Who will cover maintenance? Be realistic about what you can afford. Don’t stay for sentimental reasons if the costs are unreasonable.

If you’re going to sell, a realtor should be chosen carefully. It can be very challenging trying to sell your house during a divorce. There may be issues such as how the house is going to be valued, who will be keeping it clean for showings, what repairs will need to be carried out, etc.

With the help of an expert realtor, you won’t be selling your house out of desperation. Such a professional will help ensure that your house is sold at the right price.

In a divorce, you won’t get everything you want. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. Your goal should be to come out of it without sustaining too much emotional trauma and being prepared for the future. You will most likely have to give in to some demands from your spouse, but so will they.

Try to forget about what you’ve been told by family and friends about what is fair and what isn’t. Such may not be applicable to your own case. You should focus on getting the most favourable results from your divorce negotiations. This is where your mediator will prove to be very helpful as you will be given top divorce mediation strategies and techniques that can help you focus on the future.

Every professional mediator will help come up with solutions that are creative in order for disagreements to be resolved. Solutions where you as well as your spouse will be benefiting are the best. Always look for those proposals where both parties are feeling good after negotiations. For instance, you may decide to take the house but cover the moving expenses of your spouse. You can even make some deposits on another apartment. Understanding how to get what you want in divorce mediation doesn’t have to involve using any exploitative strategy or means.

Custody of the children often becomes one of the most troublesome issues during divorce. This is especially true if there’s anger or resentment. Just remember, you want what’s best for your children, and approaching custody in a negative way won’t get you there. In the end, you won’t be happy unless your kids get the best treatment possible. Always prioritize the needs of your children before anything else. This is one of the top divorce mediation strategies and techniques to make your kids happy.

Moving forward, try to remember that the child custody schedule should be very flexible. There are times when the schedule may have to be changed as requested by you or even your spouse. Try to avoid making the mistake of punishing your spouse as this can also deprive your kids of valuable family time. Your kids will be the ones suffering in the end. The bonus here is that you will be living an exemplary life for your kids.

If you’re overwhelmed, as is often the case with divorce, it’s easy to forget things. After several mediation sessions, you may not remember certain details. Before signing anything, review the document details carefully. Every detail should be a reflection of your agreements as listed out in the Memorandum of Understanding or separation agreement.  Once it has been signed, making changes may be difficult. The most important thing is to ensure that every requirement within such an agreement is within your capacity.