Marriages can come to an end for couples in Texas for many reasons and in a wide variety of circumstances. In many cases, divorcing spouses may place a priority on maintaining a positive, helpful relationship during and after the divorce. For others, intensive involvement with the legal system is something they wish to avoid. For these and other reasons, divorce mediation may be a preferred option for a variety of couples.
Divorce mediation doesn’t mean that couples rely only on themselves or a marriage counselor to get through the dissolution of their marriage. Instead, a qualified professional, usually a family law attorney, helps both spouses navigate the divorce proceedings without hashing out the issues in court. In some cases, each party in a divorce mediation may bring his or her own lawyer, but the goal is to resolve divorce matters in a collaborative context rather than an adversarial one.
Divorce mediators can help people come to an agreement on several issues, including asset and property division, child custody and spousal support. The mediators will help to facilitate conversations and help to ensure that both spouses feel heard and that their concerns and priorities are valued in determining the final settlement.
A mediator can help both divorcing spouses make joint decisions about child custody and asset division. The ideal outcome is a divorce in which both parties “win.” This can make mediation a good start for an ongoing, positive co-parenting relationship. On the other hand, in relationships where there is child abuse or neglect, divorce mediation could be a bad fit.
A family law attorney can help both parties in a divorce mediation handle outstanding issues concerning finances and child-rearing and reach a settlement agreement outside of court. The presence and involvement of a family lawyer can help ensure that the agreement meets the requirements of state law and properly protects the interests of the parties.