Divorce mediation has its advantages. It’s less time consuming and costly not only terms of dollars and cents, but emotionally as well. Studies have shown that couples who opt for mediation are more content and are able to get along better post-divorce. While mediation is an attractive option, the thought of going through it might seem difficult. Preparing for divorce mediation however can help you feel more at ease. Being prepared helps the process go more smoothly, and ultimately be less expensive.

Educating yourself about mediation will provide a sense of confidence and control going into a session. In order to work things out, having an open mind and a good attitude is necessary. Both parties should create a list of goals and issues they deem most critical.

Common divorce issues:

• child support
• spousal support
• parenting plans
• tax issues
• property and debt division

Prioritizing allows each party to see what outcomes they desire, and what areas they are willing to compromise on. When each party knows what they want, it makes the whole process much easier. The mediator can then focus on those goals, and help each side come to a resolution.

It’s also important to understand what the role of the mediator is. He or she is not there to pick sides or make decisions. Their job is to be objective and help both sides come to agreements on all the issues. The cost of a mediator varies based on where you reside, but it typically is in the range of $100-300. Each side usually will split the costs.

Which documents you will need depends on the circumstances of your case. The following is information that will need to be gathered and organized:

• tax returns
• assets and liabilities
• pay stubs
• appraisals
• retirement plans
• business information (if applicable)
• debts

All the necessary documents will need to be presented at mediation, and everyone involved should have a copy of each. While it’s possible to start mediation without documents, it will not allow for considerable progress to be made.

Divorce lawyers can be involved, but the decision is in the hands of each party. Having a lawyer on hand allows you to consult with him or her when there is down time during a session.

A large part of preparing for divorce mediation is knowing what matters most and the issues you are willing to compromise on. Having a positive attitude and having a strong desire to work all the issues out will also make life easier for everyone.

At the end of mediation, there are several possible scenarios. One is that all issues are agreed upon, then it can move forward as an uncontested divorce. This is the best case scenario. Another is that both sides agree to some terms, but not all. The next step here is either more mediation, or litigation. Finally, the worse case scenario is that none of the primary issues are agreed upon. The next step is then litigation.

Mediation has a lot of advantages. By preparing for divorce mediation, you will be taking a huge step towards getting your desired outcome.