The Benefits Of Divorce Mediation
As Resolution-trained Family Lawyers, we have – for many years – advised clients about the benefits of divorce mediation.
For many people, when they think about divorce, Court appears to be the first option.
Mediation is often considered a box-ticking exercise to grudgingly agree to so that Court applications can be instigated as swiftly as possible.
Perhaps the biggest reason for this is confusion over what mediation really means.
What Is Divorce Mediation?
Divorce mediation is less about reconciliation and more about conciliation.
This is something that couples often don’t appreciate, and the legal profession is partly accountable for this common misconception.
At Bennett Griffin, we believe it is our responsibility as legal professionals to present all of the options to our clients in a clear fashion.
More recently, the benefits of divorce mediation have been brought to the fore.
Real evolution took place with the emergence of Collaborative Law and Arbitration (coming across from Commercial and Civil Law).
These alternative dispute resolution paths still exist, offering choice and creativity, but they must be viewed as the norm and not “alternatives”.
Benefits Of Divorce Mediation
There are many benefits to divorce mediation.
But the list of reasons why these paths must be considered in the best interests of our clients (and especially their children) can be condensed as follows.
- Maintaining respect for one another.
- Retaining ownership of the outcomes (you decide, rather than a judge who doesn’t know your family).
- Cost benefits.
Finance is more important than ever due to the prevailing economic situation and, indeed, against a backdrop of the Courts struggling to keep up with demand and deliver an efficient service.
Members of Resolution and MPs have recently met in Parliament to discuss the deficiencies of the Court system and its huge impact on families.
Litigation has its place but should remain a last resort.
A “good” divorce/handling of children’s matters does not begin in Court and should not end there either.
Contact Bennett Griffin
If you want to learn more about divorce mediation, our family lawyers, Sarah Pennicott and Jackie Mensah, would be pleased to work with you.
You can contact them by calling 01903 229999.
Alternatively, you can visit our Family Law pages to find out more information.