Marriages fail for a variety of reasons, and every Texas couple that splits up has unique circumstances. Unfortunately, emotions can run high at the end of a marriage, even if the spouses are committed to an amicable breakup. In some cases, what should have been a straightforward divorce becomes acrimonious due to a couple having difficulty making decisions about things like property division and child support.
In recent years, divorcing spouses have increasingly turned to professional divorce mediators to help them avoid expensive, emotionally draining conflicts. A mediator works with the parties both one-on-one and together to identify goals, address concerns and to resolve difficult issues without going to court.
Every divorce mediator operates differently, but many offer free consultations so that a couple can determine whether the mediator is a good fit for their situation. Once the mediator and couple agree to work together, a series of meetings are scheduled. Over time, the mediator and divorcing spouses negotiate things such as alimony, parenting time and support payments. The mediator and couple work with each spouse’s attorney to craft a divorce agreement that will then be submitted to the court for its approval.
While mediators offer great benefits to their clients, they do not replace attorneys. Individuals who are contemplating filing for divorce may benefit from consulting with a family law attorney who can assist them through the legal process of ending a marriage. This assistance may include reviewing agreements established through a mediator, addressing financial concerns and understanding child visitation issues. In addition, an attorney may be able to help a client address the divorce legal issues that have not been resolved in the mediation process.