Tips On How To Prepare For Your Divorce Mediation
Even though mediation sessions aren’t as tasking as litigation processes, it still can be harrowing to the people involved because a divorce is always difficult on everyone.
Prepare oneself for a mediation session may seem like a difficult thing. But in order to ensure everything is taken care of in as little time as possible, it is important you understand what you need to do before heading to your first mediation.
Control your emotions and keep calm
Don’t forget you are going to the session to discuss terms and not have any heated arguments. It is always a good idea to keep this in mind and prepared for the discussion ahead. You are expected to keep your cool and not lose your head over slight disagreement. If you think you need to see a therapist in order to keep your emotions in control then do so. You can always rely on your family and friends for emotional support, to help you get through this trying time. This way you’ll be ready to negotiate in a more effective manner.
Have a clear idea of what you want
Although you’ll receive guidance during the session, you should also have an idea about your own expectations so you are able to present it during the discussion. There might be various concerns that you would want to express. Make a list of all your queries that you need to bring up in the session, lest you forget about them.
Make sure you have all the proper documents
Financial documents about your bank accounts, stocks, real estate, mutual funds etc. will be required during the session. You also need to make sure that the balances in your accounts and funds are clearly mentioned. Information on loans should also be kept at hand. In order to access them quickly for reference, it is a good idea to create spreadsheets of all this information, because they’ll be necessary when it’s time to discuss the division of assets.
Get an idea of your obligations and rights
Gather information about your rights and obligations from various sources. Consult an attorney if you have to. It is better to be prepared by educating yourself about what may or may not happen. Some consultants also allow couples to come for a free consultation. Make use of these to ask question regarding what to expect. That’ll help you to understand your options.
To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, “What is Divorce Mediation.”
Gerald A. Maggio is a trained Orange County divorce mediator who has amicably resolved cases many cases out of court, as well as an experienced divorce and family law attorney. Mr. Maggio founded California Divorce Mediators in 2012 with the belief that although “not every marriage can be saved, every family can” and a mission to save families from the financial and emotional distress associated with traditional divorce litigation. California Divorce Mediators is located in Irvine, California, and serves the Orange County area and other counties in California offering divorce mediation, child custody mediation and mediation of other family law matters.
