Is Mediation Right For Me?
The decision to get a divorce is difficult, regardless of the circumstances. When you think about going through a divorce, you may begin to feel anxious due to the sheer number of questions you will need to answer: Where will the children live? How will our finances be split? Who will pay child support? These are some questions that must be addressed before you finalize your divorce. While you and your soon-to-be ex may be butting heads, you also must be able to agree on the terms of your divorce, especially when children are involved. Fortunately, there are options available besides battling in court, with the most common and cost effective one being mediation.
Mediation is an out of court alternative to a litigated divorce, with numerous benefits for those who are willing to work together during the divorce process. This process is perfect for people who do not want to fight, who want to end their marriage peacefully, who want to do what is best for their children and who want to save money. Our team at C.E.L. & Associates, Inc. includes several experienced and highly trained mediators who are able to help you and your spouse find “middle ground” and guide you to amicable agreements that make sense.
As a starting point, it is important to know how divorce mediation differs from the in-court divorce process (known as litigation). Divorce mediation is less costly, less stressful, and more efficient than litigation. It is also confidential, while litigation requires you to file and discuss all your private information in the public domain. In divorce mediation, by contrast, a divorcing couple comes to agreements in a private setting with the assistance of a specially trained individual, known as a mediator. Mediation allows you to retain full control over the terms of your divorce. The two of you, and no one else, decides what your divorce looks like. You negotiate the terms of the divorce, presuming they are within the confines of the law and make sense for your family. Mediation keeps important decisions about parenting, money, and property in your hands, with a trained mediator helping to ensure and guide you through every step of the process.
We understand people are nervous about divorce and do not know what will happen. Though difficult in ways only divorce can be, the mediation process is much smoother and typically faster, not to mention less harmful to the children, than a contested divorce in which both parties are arguing over the aspects of the process. When both people are willing to work together, they will reach agreements that allow for future changes as needed, as a good divorce agreement is one that is “living and breathing” and accounts for future life changes. If you are considering mediation, it means you believe you can work together to finalize your divorce.
Divorce mediators are everywhere, but they each have their own process and style. Make sure you are finding a mediator who is a good fit for you. Do your homework to find the right fit, keep an open mind and cooperate with the mediator and your spouse. The cost of the whole mediation process will depend on whether you and your spouse can do homework, work together to make decisions, and should be much less expensive than hiring attorneys and going to court.
If you are looking for divorce mediation and parenting coordinator services across Chicago and surrounding areas, reach out to us at C.E.L. & Associates, Inc. Our mission is to facilitate conversations among family members during any kind of conflict or transition. Though we are neutral as Divorce Mediators, we promise our clients we will be honest, straightforward, and respectful regardless of the circumstances and facts presented to us during the mediation process. It is our mission to guide our clients to a resolution or settlement that makes sense for everyone in their family, especially their children, along with one we know will be equitable and accepted by the court. Our services include pre-decree divorce agreements, post-decree divorce agreements, marital family mediation, and co-mediation services. We serve clients across Chicago, Libertyville, Rolling Meadows, Northbrook, Kenosha, Crystal Lake, Naperville, and Paddock Lake. To learn more about the services we offer, please click here. To get in touch with us, please click here.