Many California couples who get a divorce decide to do so through the often easier route of mediation. It’s important to know how to prepare for the process.
What is divorce mediation?
Divorce mediation is a good option for working together with your spouse to end your marriage. It’s an alternative to traditional court divorce proceedings and is cheaper, faster and easier. If you and your spouse are on good enough terms to work together and negotiate matters important to you and settle them together, mediation might be the best way to divorce.
How can you prepare for divorce mediation?
It’s important to properly prepare for divorce mediation. The first step is to interview several mediators to find the one that’s the best fit. The best mediators are those who can help in all aspects of your divorce.
Knowing how to effectively communicate with your spouse is the key to successful divorce mediation. It can help you to better negotiate on the matters that are most concerning to you. When you have clear, open lines of communication, it can empower you and make you more likely to reach an agreement that works for both of you.
You must gather all the necessary documents in preparation for divorce mediation. This should include all your financial information such as tax returns, pay stubs, assets, and other financial statements. You might also want to make an inventory of your income and expenses for each month. It can help you determine a potential amount for alimony and child support.
Going a step further with your finances, you might want to meet with a financial professional one-on-one as well. A certified divorce financial analyst might be appropriate if you’re concerned about what your financial picture might look like once your divorce is final.