Mediation is the process of negotiating through a situation with the assistance of an outside neutral party tasked with keeping the discussion on track and helping people compromise until agreements are made.
It is a method that child custody mediation attorneys recommend more and more for parents who are amicable and can negotiate their custody situation themselves without involving the courts.
Why Mediation Is So Helpful in Child Custody Situations
Child custody mediation law firms find that when parents can willingly use mediation to work out a custody and visitation agreement, everyone benefits.
Based on the experiences of countless child custody mediation lawyers, these are some significant reasons why mediation is a better option for working out their agreement outside of the courtroom in a more beneficial way.
- Parents Remain In Control of the Outcome - One of the biggest problems with allowing the court to dictate child custody and visitation is that many times a judge will make decisions that one or both parents do not completely agree with. Working with a child custody mediation lawyer and a mediator, parents who can compromise and negotiate fairly are in control of their entire custody agreement so they can make the arrangements that work best for them and their kids, without outside opinions.
- Less Emotionally Taxing For All Involved - Mediation done with the guidance of a skilled mediator and helpful child custody mediation attorneys is typically a much calmer process for parents and children, making it easier on everyone.
- Teaches Co-Parenting Skills From The Start - Using mediation to work out co-parenting agreements teaches that very skill by example, right from the start.
- Higher Success Rate - Because mediation leaves parents in control of important custody decisions and requires them to compromise and co-parent to get it done, child custody mediation law firms find that parents have an easier time sticking to the agreement that they contributed to.
- Less Expensive - Mediation is usually faster than going to court and involves fewer costs and less attorney time, so it is less expensive across the board than having a custody hearing.
Consider Mediation Before Letting Family Court Make The Decisions
These notable benefits suggest that if the option is available and child custody mediation attorneys suggest it, using mediation to negotiate child custody and visitation agreements is beneficial for everyone involved, especially the children.
When parents, with the help of understanding child custody mediation lawyers, can work together and compromise their way through mediation without fighting, it suggests they will also be able to handle bumps in the co-parenting road more easily so that everyone remains as happy as possible.