Is a Divorce Mediated Settlement the Same as a Legal Settlement?
Imagine this: you’ve spent years building a life together with someone, but now, the journey is coming to an end. Both of you want to move forward, not in anger, but with respect. You’re both parents, business partners, or maybe just people who want closure without the drama. That’s where divorce mediation can offer a way to settle differences amicably. But is it the same as a legal settlement? Let’s explore this important question.
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One of the most difficult and sometimes contentious issues to resolve during a divorce settlement is how to divide joint property. Over your marriage, you may not even realize how much property you have accumulated as a couple and a family. Furniture, cars, jewelry and property may come to mind immediately, but things like retirement income, pensions, investment income and even pets must also be divided when you divorce.
If you have decided to divorce, your next decision to make is how you want to settle the terms of your divorce. The two primary options are a court battle or a form of alternative dispute resolution like mediation. One of the biggest differences in these two options is how long they take (and how much they cost!). Hiring lawyers and going through the traditional court system can take six to twelve months
If you have decided that the best path forward for your family is divorce, developing a strong and fair parenting plan can be one of the most significant challenges. Parents tend not to agree on how to divide time with their children, in large part because they love them so much and cannot envision life without seeing them every day. But, the harsh reality with divorce is that developing a custody agreement (also known as a parenting plan) is what needs to happen in order to move forward with your life. AMS Mediation understands how difficult this aspect of a divorce can be and has extensive experience creating workable parenting protocols to set limits, define boundaries and expectations so that a child custody agreement can be successful for a family.
For many couples, taking the first step toward divorce can be the most difficult. You question your decision and may not even know where to begin. The Minnesota court system requires couples who are seeking a divorce to use an alternative dispute resolution technique before proceeding with litigation, through the traditional court system. So, the first step for most couples is to find a mediator that you connect with that can help