When it comes to getting a divorce, there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat. While it certainly isn’t the case in every divorce, most couples prefer the long, drawn out and exhausting process of going to court and beating each other up over things like the coffee table. They prefer a more straight-forward, less confrontational way of getting things done. It’s called mediation.
Today, we’re going to talk about some best practices when it comes to divorce mediation and why it’s best to leave the heavy lifting to a Tampa Divorce mediation professional. Let’s jump right in!
Hire a competent Tampa Divorce Mediator
The long and short of it is this – a lot of people think choosing a mediator is a simple process when frankly – it just isn’t. Mediation is an unregulated profession in this country, so you need to be careful about who you choose. You’ll have some complex issues to resolve that will require the kind of expertise that only comes with the proper training, certifications and experience in the field. Choosing the right Tampa Divorce Mediator will help insure you avoid litigation and that the separation is as smooth, peaceful and as cost-effective as possible,
Be willing to participate and compromise
Mediation is a voluntary process. It can’t and won’t be successful if you or your spouse won’t participate in the process. That and you’ll need to be willing to give a little to get a little. There’s no such thing as a perfect separation agreement – but agree with your soon to be Ex to work together one last time – and that’s to work towards the best possible outcome for you both so that you can get what you both ultimately want – a clean break that allows you to move on with your new life as quickly as possible.
Try to keep conversations on the record
Some ‘good’ divorces involve two amicable parties working together off the grid to figure things out. While this is great, it’s not something we advise. Many times when you’re talking outside of mediation, you can unintentionally cause more harm than good – sometimes promises can be made and reneged, sometimes you make decisions with limited information, etc. And sometimes the financial agreements that you need to make are not all that straight-forward. Keep your conversations above board and on the record as much as possible.
Act in good faith
Always remember: you both want the same thing! Negotiate in good faith. Don’t assume your spouse is trying to get one over on you, don’t automatically assume they’re lying, etc. Disclose what you have, be transparent and engage in good faith negotiations. Withholding information, hiding assets or defrauding your partner will result in strained feelings and likely – court.
Hopefully you found today’s blog helpful. If you need help in the future, or would like to learn more from our Tampa Divorce Mediation professionals, give us a call today. Until then, good luck!
