There are many important issues on which you may disagree with your spouse during a divorce. Issues such as child custody, alimony, and asset division can breed conflict, making it tempting to resort to courtroom battles wherein attorneys and a judge will hash out your problems for you. If you are hesitant about mediation, it may be because you are worried that you will be pressured to compromise what is important to you. While in most cases mediation will require compromise from both spouses, this alone cannot solve all your disputes. The key to a successful mediation experience is accepting beforehand that you will have to bend on some issues. Even if you took your divorce to court, the judge can make a decision that you may not like. So, while mediation may require you and your spouse to compromise, it is still preferable to leaving it up to the courts to decide.

Before you approach mediation, make sure you have a good idea of what you want out of the process. Know what you will ask for and what you are willing to compromise on. Also, try to get an idea of what your spouse wants and what he or she may not be willing to compromise on. You may not have to compromise on everything, so long as you and your spouse can be flexible and work out a separation agreement that meets both your needs. This can be hard to do on your own, which is why a skilled divorce mediator is such a valuable resource. It is crucial to hire a well-qualified divorce mediator if you want a successful mediation. A skilled mediator will work with both you and your spouse to help you negotiate an agreement and, just as importantly, can help you both feel good about the compromises you do have to make. An inexperienced mediator may not be able to diffuse conflict that may arise and you may leave the experience feeling like neither of you got what you wanted. There are mediators to fit every budget, but consider how much a successful mediation is worth to you. An experienced mediator can help you both leave feeling like your needs were met without having to sacrifice what was most important to you.

If you are contemplating mediation for your divorce, contact Mediation Advantage Services for experienced family law help.

Law Office of Polly Tatum can assist you with initiating the divorce process in a non-adversarial way, helping you maintain peace of mind and keep your costs down. Based in historic Worcester, our firm serves all cities and towns throughout Massachusetts and Worcester County including, Auburn, Paxton, Leicester, Sutton, Grafton, Shrewsbury, Westboro, Northboro, Southboro, Holden, Sterling, Princeton, Worcester, Charlton, Millbury, Dudley, Spencer, Brookfield, Sudbury, Natick, Framingham, Hopkinton, Milford, Blackstone, Leominster, Fitchburg, Acton, Jefferson, Barre, Oakham, Cambridge, Newton, Marlboro, Lancaster, Bolton, and Hudson. Call our office at (508) 466-4734, fill out our online form, or email us at info@mediationadvantage.com today to schedule your Complimentary Mediation Success Planning Session. You can also sign up for our eNewsletter or download our free guide for more information regarding divorce in Massachusetts.