Atkinson & Kelsey Law Firm Blog

How does divorce mediation benefit children?

Working through family law issues can be difficult for couples in New Mexico and elsewhere in the nation. When a family is going through the divorce process, there are often numerous decisions to be made. If children are involved, the choices made could greatly impact them. This is why it is crucial that divorcing parents understand their options and what steps they could take to reach a fair and amicable divorce settlement. In some matters, divorce mediation is the chosen method to work through their family law issues, especially when it concerns the well-being of a child.

How does divorce mediation benefit children? In order to answer that, the process should be understood. Simply put, it is a method that allows a divorcing couple to resolve dissolution disputes by working with a third-party neutral. The neutral party facilitates the negotiation and resolution of their divorce issues by promoting the voluntary agreement of the parties.

What are the goals of divorce mediation? In general, divorcing couples choose this method to create an equitable, amicable and legally sound divorce settlement. In addition, it is also a process that could help the divorcing couple avoid both the high costs and emotional tolls the litigation process could cause them. With regards to children, it allows the parents to establish a mutually acceptable child custody agreement and even set terms for child support. Because the parents have worked together and negotiated the terms of the child custody plan, it might minimize hostility and even post-divorce issues.

What are the advantages of divorce mediation? One positive is the role and factor of the third-party neutral. A mediator helps facilitates resolution but also keeps the divorcing couple on track. This could help them evade serious disputes. In addition, a mediator could also tell when the process is simply no longer working and could suggest moving forward with another divorce method, such as litigation. Lastly, it could provide problem-solving skills, which could be useful if future modifications to the order are necessary. For example, the divorced parents may need to work together to adjust a child custody agreement or child support payment plan to meet the changing needs of their children.

While divorces could include various family law issues, those related to the wellbeing of children should be properly and timely addressed. In these matters, parents could choose to utilize mediation or another method. No matter what process they use, it is important that divorcing or divorced parents understand their rights and options so they can focus on the needs and interests of their children.

Source: Family.findlaw.com, “Divorce Mediation – Overview,” accessed on Jan. 16, 2015