North Carolina Family Law – Divorce and Mediation

There are a lot of big decisions that have to be made when you are going through a divorce. Naturally, there are going to be some disagreements, and the importance of the decisions can make the situation highly emotional and stressful on both parties. This is where it is extremely helpful to have the guidance of a North Carolina family law attorney who can facilitate mediation. In this post, we’re going to discuss mediation, the primary benefits of the process, when it is appropriate, and the general things you should know and keep in mind.

Understanding the Purpose of Mediation

The purpose of mediation is to give yourself and your spouse or ex-spouse the chance to resolve issues without having to go to court. It also keeps you from having to argue about your various concerns and issues through lawyers. It involves both parties coming together, with a mediator, to discuss the issues in a healthy and productive way. The mediator is not someone who represents or favors one party over another. Rather, the mediator is neutral and assists you with the difficult conversations, compromises, and ultimate resolution of differences. This is the ideal setting to resolve such issues as custody/visitation, child support, division of assets, and more.

How Mediation Can Benefit Both Parties

Mediation benefits both parties who are going through the process of a divorce. For one thing, you are able to save yourselves the stress and emotional challenges that are associated with arguments and disagreements about how each person wants the divorce to go. You will still have these issues, but a neutral third party will help you sort them out, instead of having to face them on your own. Beyond this, you both benefit by saving a tremendous amount of money and time that would otherwise be invested in court procedures.

Finally, by working things out in a neutral and respectful setting, you are likely to end up with better feelings towards each other, which is especially beneficial in situations that involve children. You should leave mediation feeling as though you’ve come to a fair agreement, on both sides; and, if successful, neither party will feel slighted or damaged in the process. This means that you end up with a more positive relationship, which can greatly benefit your future interactions and your relationships with your children.

When Is It Appropriate to Work with a Mediator?

While it is not the most common circumstance, there are situations where both parties in a divorce are quite agreeable on all subjects. You may not need a mediator if you and your ex-spouse are happy to divide assets and work out child custody, visitation, and support in a way that works well for both of you. However, if you are like the majority of divorcing couples, there is likely to be some disagreement in one or more of these areas. This is when it is appropriate to work with a mediator to help you to resolve these disagreements.

Things To Keep In Mind When You Work With A Mediator

It is essential to keep in mind the purpose of mediation when you work with a mediator and to remember that the mediator is not on anyone’s side. You should know that you might not get everything that you want, and your ex-spouse likely won’t get everything he or she wants either. You have to be prepared to make compromises and to listen to the mediator. The mediator is a neutral third party who wants to ensure that everything turns out fairly and that you walk away with the sense that you have not been wronged, and neither has the other party. This is your chance to resolve things in a civil and fair manner.

Your North Carolina Family Law Attorney Can Facilitate Mediation

The best thing that you can do to ensure the success of mediation is to find a very good mediator. This should be someone who inspires trust and confidence, someone who is fair, and someone with a lot of experience. Your North Carolina family law attorney should be able to assist you with finding the best mediator to help settle disagreements and bring about the best possible outcome for both sides. At the Remington & Dixon Law Firm, our dedicated Charlotte family law attorneys have years of experience in helping divorcing couples to find a great mediator and resolve their concerns.

Contact the Remington & Dixon Law Firm today for a free consultation, and we’ll be happy to answer any questions that you may have about family law, divorce, and mediation. Then, we’ll set you up with an experienced mediator who can help you and your spouse to resolve all of your disagreements without having to go to court.

FAQs

Are consultations free?

While we offer a free consultation on traffic matters, criminal matters, and most professional license defense cases, we charge a fee for family law consultations to personalize our consultations to your specific needs. To learn about our fee structure, please get in touch.

Where can I get legal advice?

We recommend meeting with an attorney. While there is free legal help available for North Carolina residents from pro bono resources for civil matters, and public defenders for criminal cases, the best way to access tailored advice is to hire a lawyer.

Can I hire you if I’m in another state?

This is done on a case by case basis if you are involved in a family law, criminal, or professional disciplinary matter that involves another jurisdiction.

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