Here are some tips to ensure a productive divorce mediation.
Going through a divorce can take a toll on the psyche. One reason is that the process is long and drawn out, and another is that divorce can be costly. However, you and your spouse can avoid lengthy litigation by using divorce mediation. Plus, divorce mediation is cost-effective. If you want to make the most of your time, energy, and money, here are some tips to ensure a productive divorce mediation.
Prioritize What’s Most Important
Empower yourself in the mediation process by understanding what parts of the divorce are important to you and where you’re willing to compromise. By prioritizing your top concerns with your divorce attorney, you can weigh the settlement options better than you see during the mediation. It’s also wise to consider your spouse’s priorities to evaluate the value of concessions you might be willing to consider.
Understand Your Assessts Before Going into a Divorce Mediation
When approached with understanding and preparation, the divorce mediation process ensures a fair division of the marital estate you and your spouse have accrued over time. To understand whether a property division is fair, you need to know what your marital property is worth and any associated liabilities. We suggest creating an itemized list of the significant assets, their value, and any household debts.
An itemized list should include some of the following items:
- The approximate values of homes and mortgage values
- Current balances and loans of retirement accounts
- Savings, checking, and investment accounts
- The value and name of the policyholder on cash value life insurance accounts
- Monthly interest rates and credit card account balances
- Medical and student loan debt
Create a Realistic Spending Plan in Advance
If your divorce includes child support or alimony, you’ll need to know how much money is enough to support yourself and your children ahead of time. Create a realistic spending plan that includes the following:
- Household expenses
- Food
- Clothing
- Medical copays
- Vehicle costs
When you create a realistic budget, your former spouse will understand where the money goes.
Make Your Children a Priority
If you’re raising children under 18, their needs should be at the center of your negotiations. Focus on what’s best for your kids when considering custody, visitation, and child support. Family law prioritizes what’s practical, not just what feels right. Your children’s transition should be as painless as possible, ensuring that your kids maintain a healthy relationship with you and your former spouse.
Be Meticulous About Your Divorce Settlement Terms
Divorce mediation saves time. However, you could return to court because your original judgments weren’t explicit. Avoid this frustration by being specific in your divorce or separation agreement terms. Even if you and your spouse are flexible, being clear about things such as mortgage refinancing deadlines and visitation hours is helpful in case disagreements arise. Once you and your spouse iron out all the agreements, you should have the agreements recorded or in writing.
Divorce is an emotional, complex process. However, having the right divorce attorney and family law expert on your side makes it much easier to endure. Are you seeking a Maryland family law expert or divorce attorney to help you navigate your divorce mediation? Then give Mike Mastracci a call today.
The Right Lawyer Can Make All the Difference
Hiring a lawyer should be the first thing you do when encountering any legal matter, not a last resort. Whether you’re thinking about a separation or divorce or have been charged with a crime, been injured in an accident, or your civil rights have been violated, you need to first know your rights. Contact Mike Mastracci today at 614 Edmondson Ave Catonsville, MD 21228. With satellite offices in Baltimore County, Ocean City, Snow Hill, and Salisbury, Maryland. (410) 869-3400 fax: (302) 988-2313 If responding by regular mail, send to 30107 Tammy Court Selbyville, DE 19975, and check us out on Facebook.