Should I Consider Mediation For My Divorce?
The Minnesota court system actually encourages all couples who are entering into the divorce process to try mediation before they move forward with litigation. This comes as a surprise to many couples, assuming that hiring lawyers and bringing their case in front of a judge is the only way forward. Over the last decade (or more), mediation has proven to be a highly effective, affordable way to settle the terms of a divorce with less conflict
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If you have decided to use mediation to settle the terms of your divorce, you already know that you will likely complete the process more quickly and spend less than you would in litigation. In fact, that may have been the driver for choosing this alternative dispute resolution (ADR) service. Once you have made this decision, it is time to get ready for the process. Here are some negotiating tips to use during mediation to put you and your family in the best possible situation for success:
If you have recently been through a divorce or are separated from your spouse and are navigating the process now, the idea of the upcoming holiday season may be very stressful. The first holidays during or after a divorce can be especially difficult for families with kids, as they adjust to a life of sharing custody. Here are 5 tips for making it through the holiday season and making the best of your new situation this year
Each state has specific divorce laws, so it is important to understand the specific guidelines in your state if you are planning to seek a divorce. In the state of Minnesota, you are not required to complete a legal separation before your divorce and an uncontested divorce can take as few as 4-6 weeks to complete. This is much faster than the process in other states. Minnesota is a “no fault” state, so you do not have to prove your spouse did something wrong in order for a divorce to be granted. This also means that the court cannot consider who is at fault when they are making decisions about your divorce settlement.
When you are settling the terms of your divorce, deciding how to coordinate custody for your children and ultimately how to co-parent after divorce, you cannot go through the courts every time you hit a bump in the road. The Minnesota court system is backed up and it can take weeks if not months to get a hearing date, which can lead to increased conflict and stress as you wait to take your problem forward. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services offer an option that does not involve the courtroom, a judge and lawyers to litigate the multiple issues surrounding your divorce. The Minnesota courts even encourage couples to try an ADR service
If you are anticipating the high financial cost of divorce, you are not alone. Divorce can be extremely expensive, especially if you hire attorneys and go through the traditional court system. A typical divorce in the US that goes through litigation can cost between $15,000-$20,000. This is on top of how much more life in general is when you have two households instead of one. Conserving financial resources during divorce