How Do I Prepare For Divorce Mediation?
Using a Calgary divorce mediator is a great option for couples who aren’t sure what they want out of the divorce process and are looking for an alternative to court. There are many reasons why you might want to try divorce mediation over traditional divorce. For example, you may not want to go through court or you may want to save money by avoiding legal fees.
Mediation also works well if you’re concerned about how long it will take to get through the process. Mediation usually takes less time than traditional court because there’s no need to wait on judges or lawyers to schedule hearings and trials. Once your spouses agree on an outline for the settlement and then sign off, it’s time for the mediator to draft up the agreement for both parties’ signatures.
If you’re considering divorce mediation but aren’t sure where to start, here are some tips on how best prepare yourself for this type of process:
- Meet With Your Lawyer
Your lawyer can advise you on how to prepare for divorce mediation and help ensure that any settlement reached during mediation will be enforceable in court. Your lawyer can also provide insight into how much it might cost to go to trial if mediation doesn’t work out.
2. Draft A Divorce Mediation Memo
A divorce mediation memo is a document that lists all of your assets, debts and other financial information as well as any agreements you’ve already reached with your spouse regarding these matters. You’ll use this document when discussing finances during the mediation session so that both parties are on the same page before they begin discussing values and concessions they would be willing to make in order to reach an agreement quickly and efficiently.
3. Have Your First Offer Ready
When you meet with your mediator, you will be asked to make an offer that represents what you believe would be fair in terms of property division, child custody and spousal support if there were no negotiations going on between the two parties involved in the case. Once this offer has been made, it is important to stick by it so that neither party feels taken advantage of during negotiations later on down the line.
4. Discuss Your Non-Negotiables
The term “non-negotiable” is used frequently during divorce mediation. It can mean different things for different people. For example, if you want to keep your house or if you want child support payments to increase. To prepare for your mediation session, be sure to talk about what your non-negotiables are and why they are important to you.
5. Talk About Mediation Logistics
Discuss how often you will meet with your Calgary divorce mediator and how long each meeting will last. You should also discuss how much time you have before your next mediation session so that you can prepare accordingly (e.g., gather documents or schedule appointments).
6. Discuss The Next Steps If You Can’t Settle
You should also think about what happens if settlement talks fail and you have to go back to court.
If you can’t agree on anything during the mediation, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to come together later down the road when circumstances change or new information comes out. In fact, if nothing else, it will give both parties a chance to take a break from the situation and reflect on their own needs as well as those of their children (if applicable).
Plan In Advance For A Smoother Mediation
If you’re looking for an amicable option out of your divorce, you should consider Calgary divorce mediation. By taking the time to prepare yourself and your spouse, you can help ensure that the process goes more smoothly than you may have originally anticipated.
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