There are a number of benefits to the mediation process, some of which are listed below. Mediation is not appropriate for all people and the mediator and one’s own solicitor will consider any issues that might make it difficult or unsuitable. The benefits include:
Flexibility
Setting the agenda is encouraged by a mediator and parties feel more able to confirm what they want to cover in mediation. You can overcome the things important to your own family and cover issues that might not otherwise be relevant to the litigation process.
A mediation session can be set to a time and place convenient to you and the mediator. You choose the length of time between sessions and manage the pace. You will not have to wait months for a subsequent date as may occur in court proceedings, and together you can make sure you each have enough time to prepare financial disclosure and reflect on the suggestions made. For a Solicitors Southend to help you with family law, visit a site like Solicitors Southend Drysdales Solicitors.
The decision reached in mediation can be customized by your family. This is different to a court that imposes a decision on you in which the judge may not have the power to impose similar arrangements or doesn’t appreciate the subtlety of why certain suggestions may be better.
Communication – the role of the mediator is to foster effective dialogue between two parties and discuss ideas about possible outcomes. As decisions are arrived at mutually during mediation, those decisions are more likely to be accepted and adhered to by the parties involved. Mediation is designed to promote communication and co-parenting relationships that last. It is very important for parents to be linked to the rest of the lives of their children.
Privacy – going through mediation is completely confidential and private and confidential which means that each party is more likely to be honest and open about the choices they would consider. This usually results in the parties making suggestions they might be reluctant to make in a court setting. For high-profile clients, it is also a way to keep the details of your relationship out of the public eye.
Cost and time – when done successfully, mediation can prove quicker and less expensive than litigation. By setting the agenda and choosing the number of sessions you have, the parties have more control over the process than if they were part of a court process. The mediator helps to organise the process and works to make sure that mediation is brought to a close if it is deemed to be unproductive or likely to make matters worse.