The divorce mediation process may not be as intense as an all out custody battle, but it still carries some stressors, so it’s important to prepare properly. Having these five skills in your pocket will help you.
- Keep the process in the mediation room.
Divorce, even a mediation process, can be very taxing on you mentally, physically, and emotionally. Therefore, it is important to understand why you need to keep the process soley in the mediation room. This is for your mental health, privacy, and legal reasons, as you shouldn’t discuss the process with others. Doing so can only open you up to legal battles. Confidentiality provides you, your ex spouse, and children with privacy during a very private time. This also means that you shouldn’t discuss the process with your children in great detail, particularly if there’s animosity between you and your ex spouse.
- Know your objective.
Going into mediation, you’ll need to have talking points and backup to show why you’re vouching for what you want in the divorce. This is the same regarding finances or splitting assets, like valuable possessions, and will not only define what it is you want, but how you can work toward advocating for it with your ex spouse and the mediator. This means talking with your attorney about the assets that are rightfully yours and the ones that you can vouch for or split with your former spouse.
- Stay rational.
Even divorce mediation can get heated, and it’s normal to feel differing emotions as you work with your ex spouse and the mediator to come to an agreement. You don’t want to deny these feelings, but you also want to stay rational in the situation. Letting your emotions get the better of you likely won’t change the outcome and will lead to a more stressful process for everyone involved.
- Be prepared.
There are a lot of things that you may be required to bring into the mediation room, such as documents. It’s important to ensure that you’re prepared for the meeting by speaking with your lawyer about what is essential, as being caught off guard or unprepared will likely not work in your favor. Mediation is a process that both parties must show dedication to in order for it to go smoothly, which includes proper preparation.
- Have patience.
The mediation process and the divorce process is long in and of itself, so it’s important to have patience. The process can take a toll on your mental health. Mediation will not be completely solved overnight, and these sessions will likely be taxing, so remember to take care of yourself as well. This will ensure that you are able to stay prepared for the long haul of the mediation process, if that’s how it progresses.
If you will be going through a divorce and want to know more about the divorce mediation process to see if it’s the right option for you and your soon to be ex spouse, Simon Law Group can help. For more information, contact us.
