If you are planning to divorce in the state of California in the near future, divorce mediation may be a workable solution for you and your former spouse. These divorce options allow you both to provide your input on the division of debts and assets, child custody and living arrangements during and after the decree is final. Here are some practical ways to convince your former partner to consider mediation for your upcoming divorce.
Be Upfront With Your Intentions
Bringing up the subject of meditation should not be an exercise in subterfuge. Openness and honesty will more often persuade your former partner to your position than attempts at trickery or subtlety. Being upfront about your wish to use mediation for your divorce proceedings will typically provide the best outcomes for these efforts.
Attempt to Reduce Conflict
One of the most important elements in a successful mediation process is the cessation of hostilities between you and your former spouse. Finding ways to reduce hard feelings and to work together is essential to achieve the best results. This will often entail the following steps:
- Talking through issues that are points of contention and finding a middle ground or compromise point for these problems.
- Avoiding the use of charged language or accusations when discussing the divorce.
- Maintaining a positive attitude about each other when speaking with your children.
- Texting or emailing rather than calling when your feelings are running high.
These strategies can typically pay off in a more cordial relationship between you and your former spouse, which can usually result in improved results for divorce mediation proceedings.
Explain the Benefits of Mediation
Doing a little research on the mediation process and the advantage of using mediation to manage your divorce will often help you to make the most compelling case when broaching the subject to your former partner. Some of the most important benefits of mediation may include the following:
- Lower costs for legal fees are sometimes possible with mediated divorce proceedings. This is because of the reduced need to hash out all aspects of the divorce in the presence of attorneys. By working together, both you and your former spouse can save time and money on the cost of your divorce.
- The mediation will also foster a sense of teamwork that is critical for parents of children. By using mediation to deal with custody issues, child support and other matters related to your children, you can establish a foundation of trust that will allow you to work together more easily after your divorce is final.
- Divorce mediation will also usually allow for a more tailored approach to the distribution of assets and debts. By negotiating with each other in a fair and equitable manner, you can often make the most practical choices for both you and your former spouse during your divorce proceedings.
By approaching your divorce in a calm and civil manner, you and your former spouse can achieve the best results and the most streamlined divorce proceedings possible. This can have real benefits for you and your children and will typically ensure that you achieve your goals of separate lives and brighter futures in the most positive way possible.