It is not uncommon for one spouse to be dishonest during a divorce. When it comes to deciding who gets what and how much, one spouse may be dishonest about their finances in an attempt to devalue the marital estate. If you are concerned that your spouse may try to hide assets or income, you may be thinking taking your divorce to court is your only chance at a fair outcome. You might know that your spouse may face harsh consequences if he or she hides assets from the court. You might even find security in that. Divorce mediation, however, can still be successful even if you fear your spouse will be dishonest.

Your spouse may be inclined to hide assets during the divorce for fear of an unfair outcome in the end. People often feel like they were treated unfairly when they take their divorce to court. It is possible to reach an outcome that is fair to both spouses in mediation, and this can minimize any dishonest inclinations your spouse has. You and your spouse will have to fully disclose your finances even if you don’t litigate in court. Both you and your spouse will have to sign a participation agreement before starting mediation stating that you agree to open and honest dealings. An experienced mediator can educate you and your spouse on all the information that you need to disclose, so nothing is omitted. Mediation is a non-adversarial process. By its very nature mediation is amicable and cooperative.

Litigation is not your only option if you are concerned your spouse will be dishonest about certain facts in your divorce. Forcing full disclosure out of your spouse in court can take significant resources. And, again, the nature of litigation is adversarial and can contribute itself to dishonesty.

Speak with an experienced Massachusetts divorce mediator if you want to explore your options and effectively plan for your mediation. A skilled mediator with significant experience may be able to save you and your spouse from the costs and stress of litigation by helping you both with your financial disclosure, ensuring you are aware of and adhere to the requirements.

If you have questions about how mediation can help you, contact Mediation Advantage Services for expert help. Experienced in divorce mediation, Law Office of Polly Tatum can help you efficiently  mediate your divorce and will help ensure all the pertinent facts are disclosed. Based in historic Worcester with a satellite office in Northboro, MA, 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) 576-5886, 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 e-book for more information regarding divorce in Massachusetts.