At the Law Office of Kristen L Campbell, LLC, we know that divorcing Ohio couples are under a great deal of stress. We also know, however, that your emotional and financial pain can be significantly lessened when you and your spouse commit to resolving your issues in a safe and rational environment rather than arguing about them in court. Such peaceful dispute resolution is the purpose of mediation.
The Ohio State Bar Association explains that mediation is a process during which a neutral third party, the mediator, helps you and your spouse communicate and negotiate with each other to reach mutually acceptable resolutions of your disputes. Such disputes may include the following:
- Parenting responsibilities for your child(ren)
- Parenting schedules
- Marital property division
- Child support
- Additional financial issues
When you and your spouse arrive at your own divorce settlement, rather than relying on a judge to make these decisions for you, you have a sense of mutual accomplishment. In addition, both of you probably will be more satisfied with your settlement and more likely to abide by it after your divorce is finalized.
Mediation benefits
While each mediation is unique to the couple involved and their particular disputes and disagreements, the mediation process itself has four characteristics as follows:
- The mediator gives each of you an opportunity to present your side of all issues.
- The mediator provides a safe atmosphere in which you and your spouse usually agree on some ground rules, such as no name calling, no recriminations, etc., before proceeding to discuss your differences.
- The mediator encourages you to engage in possibility thinking, coming up with your own options and solutions.
- The mediator is flexible. While some couples require only one or two mediation sessions, others require more.
For more mediation information, please visit our page on this subject. This alternative dispute resolution method can save you both time and money.
