Divorce Mediation in Raleigh & Cary, North Carolina
Divorce mediation is an alternative to litigation in which a neutral mediator helps the parties formulate a divorce agreement outside of court. By working closely with a mediator, the parties can negotiate and resolve issues of spousal support, property division, and child custody without the need for time-consuming and expensive litigation.
At Raleigh Divorce Law Firm, we work with you throughout the mediation process by providing legal information and advice and acting as a sounding board when you need to discuss vital issues.
What a Raleigh or Cary divorce mediator does
Mediation does not mean that a third party resolves your issues for you. Rather, the function of a mediator is to provide the skills and resources necessary to help you reach a settlement with your spouse.
It is important to remember that a divorce mediator does not represent either party. Instead, the role of this neutral mediator is to facilitate communication and help the parties reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
The benefits of working with a divorce mediator in Raleigh include the following:
- Opening lines of communication
- Viewing the dispute from different perspectives
- Relaying offers or counter-offers
- Suggesting compromises
- Reducing trial time and costs
What is the Raleigh and Cary divorce mediation process?
The divorce mediation process includes either one meeting or a series of meetings in which both parties lay out their goals and negotiate all issues in the divorce agreement. How long this process takes depends on the issues you must work out, such as:
- Custody arrangements
- Visitation schedules
- Division of property and debts
- Alimony
Upon successful resolution of all issues, the mediator drafts a settlement agreement. Each party reviews the agreement with his or her Raleigh divorce attorney and the signed agreement is then submitted to the court for approval by a judge, or, in some cases, the parties may choose to execute a written contract called a Separation Agreement.
The benefits of divorce mediation in Raleigh
Divorce mediation offers many benefits:
- Cooperation instead of litigation. Mediation enables the parties to work together with a mediator to reach their divorce agreement, rather than having the final terms of the divorce decreed by a judge.
- Confidentiality. Unlike litigation, the mediation process is confidential. In addition, a divorce mediator may not testify about what occurred during mediation in future court proceedings.
- Improved relationships. The collaborative nature of mediation helps foster a positive relationship between the partners. This paves the way for a smoother co-parenting relationship in the future and benefits everyone involved.
- Lower costs. Mediation saves money. Divorce litigation can be expensive and lead to future litigation as well. But in a mediated divorce, the parties cooperate to achieve an agreement that is in the best interests of their family.
Contact the Cary & Raleigh Divorce Law Firm today
Let the Raleigh Divorce Law Firm provide the quality legal counsel you need to help your family through this transition. Contact us online or call us at 877.466.2601 to schedule a consultation.
