If you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse cannot reach an agreement about property division, child custody, or any other issues on your own, you may assume the next step is having the court intervene. Instead, consider an alternative method of conflict resolution without need of court assistance, such as mediation.
The right divorce lawyer can help you use mediation to reach a fair, mutually beneficial agreement. However, not all divorce lawyers have experience with mediation. Look for a divorce lawyer in Surrey who is a trained mediator and fully understands this process.
How Does a Divorce Lawyer in Surrey Help With Mediation?
Mediation is the process of working with a neutral third party, known as a mediator, to resolve your differences after separation. A mediator can help you and your spouse reach an agreement about:
- Child custody agreements
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Property division
A divorce lawyer in Surrey can help with mediation in a variety of ways, including:
- Acting as a mediator. They can play a neutral role in helping you and your spouse resolve conflicts and disagreements. Mediators lead the conversation, meet with both spouses separately, ask questions, and help ensure that both parties understand each other.
- In representing you during mediation. You and your spouse can retain your own lawyers to be at your side through this process. Your lawyer will represent your interests rather than acting as a neutral third party. A separate mediator will lead the conversation.
Some divorcing couples choose to have their own legal representation present during family law mediation, while others rely on the assistance of the neutral mediator while essentially representing themselves.
Benefits of Mediation in the Divorce Process
Why should you consider asking a divorce lawyer in Surrey to help with family mediation? Whether you enlist a lawyer to act as a mediator or to represent you during mediation, you should consider this process for several beneficial reasons:
- Avoid court intervention – If you and your spouse leave important decisions like child custody and property division to the court, you may not receive a favorable outcome or have any control over the decision. Mediation lets your voice be heard and prevents decisions that you do not agree with.
- Share your side – You may feel your spouse isn’t listening to you or willing to compromise. Mediation gives you ample opportunity to share your thoughts while ensuring that your spouse listens. You and your spouse will each have time to state your side of the argument while a mediator facilitates the conversation.
- Facilitate faster settlements – If you and your spouse can resolve conflicts during mediation, you can avoid a lengthy court process. Mediation often involves only one or two sessions. At the end of this process, you can sign the settlement agreement and start to move forward with your life.
- The right decision for your family – When a judge decides on issues like property division and spousal support, they may not know the full details of your family situation and how these decisions would impact your family as a whole. Mediation helps you reach a decision that works well for your family and considers your specific needs.
Pier Law & Mediation Can Help You With This Process
Mediation is not the right fit for everyone, but it could be a good path forward for your family. At Pier Law & Mediation, we help clients through the mediation process in British Columbia. Our lawyers are trained mediators. We consider court a last resort and seek to help divorcing couples resolve their differences through other methods first.
To speak with a divorce lawyer in Surrey, contact us today at +1-604-560-8285 or fill out our contact form.