Campbell Frank A

Information may not be reliable

If you are reading this, you may already be separated or seriously thinking about separation and divorce or you may have other family issues that are unresolved. You know you’ve got important and difficult decisions to make – financial, emotional, potentially life-changing decisions. And how you make those decisions will affect not only your future but your children’s, if you are a parent.
At this point you may not know which way to turn. You have heard horror stories about couples becoming mired in long court battles. You know getting involved in an adversarial divorce can be expensive and emotionally draining.
While communication and trust with your spouse may be at an all-time low, there is generally enough good will left for divorce mediation with the help of an experienced mediator.
Divorce mediation differs from a traditional divorce in that you and your spouse define the issues in dispute and reach agreements that are in the best interest of your family. In a conventional divorce, attorneys negotiate a settlement or take the case to court. In divorce mediation, you and your spouse work through issues. Read a composite of couples' mediation experiences.
These and other important issues can be resolved successfully with the help of an experienced mediator. Mediation generally averages four to six sessions lasting about two hours each. Please see Frequently Asked Questions about mediation.
You may reach agreement more quickly, particularly if you don’t have children, or if your children are out of the nest. Others may take longer.

The complexity of issues and how quickly consensus is reached are two factors that affect how long mediation will take.
The more you can agree on, the less time you’ll spend in mediation. You and your spouse meet with the mediator weekly, or less often if you choose.
The mediator’s office is a safe place to discuss your interests and concerns. Rather than have others make decisions for you, you negotiate a settlement with your spouse that takes into account your interests and concerns and those of your children.
If you have children, you and your spouse are parents for life. If you achieve a good working relationship for the sake of the children, all of you will get on with your lives more successfully. That is one of the principal goals of divorce mediation. The other is to offer a positive, affordable alternative to adversarial divorce.