Four Reasons to Consider Mediation in an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on December 05, 2024 in Mediation

Every divorce comes with its own challenges. When you and your spouse reach a point of irreconcilable differences, you may decide it is time to separate, which is easier said than done. You may have questions about how property will be divided between you and your spouse, what will become of your shared real estate, and how you will handle co-parenting if children are involved.

There are many ways to settle the dissolution of a marriage. In emotionally fraught, high-stress cases, the matter could be litigated in court. However, you might prefer a less intense alternative via mediation, which allows you and your spouse to sit down and discuss how the divorce will be handled with the help of an unbiased third party. Illinois family law attorney Matt Shaw of Shaw Sanders, P.C. is a certified mediator, helping clients amicably resolve family law issues.

Mediation Sets a Good Example for Your Children

Children caught between divorcing parents are placed in a stressful position. The back-and-forth arguing and courtroom litigation can be a traumatic experience for a child to go through, especially if the divorce drags out for months at a time. Mediation can help foster a civil atmosphere between you and your spouse, which will be important going forward when you need to make parenting decisions together.

Mediation Is Cost Efficient

Regardless of your income bracket, a divorce litigated in court can be expensive. You may have to take significant time off of work, depriving you of wages and paid time off, which can compound on top of the associated legal fees. By contrast, mediation is much less costly, allowing you to focus on the key issues with your spouse without fear of emptying your bank account.

Mediation Saves Time

A contested divorce litigated in court can take several months to a year in Illinois. If you and your spouse reach a standstill on certain issues, you will likely have to resolve those issues across multiple hearings. A certified mediator can help you clear those stopgaps much faster, keeping the conversation productive with a focus on mutual compromise.

Mediation Is Unbiased

The goal of mediation is not for one party to "win," but rather for you and your spouse to cooperate to reach a satisfactory resolution. A mediator takes no sides during negotiation, helping to clear up the tension in a neutral setting. Courts can sometimes be inflexible with divorce rulings, but the collaborative nature of mediation allows for you and your spouse to work towards a creative solution.

Contact a St. Charles, IL Family Law Attorney

To put it plainly, divorces are difficult. Mediation provides you and your spouse with an avenue to settle disagreements without all the woes of going to court, saving you time, money, and heartache in the long run. A Kane County, IL family law attorney at Shaw Sanders, P.C. can act as a mediator in your divorce, and if necessary, we are prepared to advocate on your behalf in courtroom litigation. To schedule a free consultation, contact us at 630-584-5550 today.