3. Maintain decision-making regarding the plan.
Mediation allows the people involved to maintain complete control over what the solution to their dispute looks like. Although these conversations can be difficult, a skilled mediator will assist you to transform difficult conversations into productive ones that benefit all family members, particularly the children. In contentious family court disputes, parties invest extensive time and money which takes away from any financial or other benefits they may gain from a court order. You have a choice. You can give a judge the power to decide what is best for your family or you can decide together. Courts must make decisions within limited legal parameters and do so with the best of intentions. However, it is rare that a court decision benefits all involved, particularly the children, more than a mediated settlement.
4. Participants in mediation have higher satisfaction rates.
In numerous studies, both male and female mediation participants are more satisfied with mediation those who use an adversarial process such as lawyer negotiations, court processes, and trials (Ellis & Stuckless, 1996). According to Vujnovic (2008), “Clients who participate in mediation shortly after separation and before they became involved with lawyers and the court process, reported higher rates of agreement.” Simply, mediation has high satisfaction rates, so why not try it.
More benefits to come…
