When you and your intended got married and decided to settle in Texas, you no doubt envisioned a lifelong journey together. As time passed, whether it was five years or 25 or more, things may not have turned out the way you had hoped they would in your relationship. You might be thinking that it’s better to go your separate ways than to stay in an unhappy marriage. You might also be thinking that you want to avoid litigation, which means that divorce mediation might be a viable option.
Mediation is an alternate form of negotiation, which enables you to settle a divorce without entering a courtroom. A primary goal of mediation is to avoid confrontation, which means that certain skills are necessary to peacefully resolve the issues that are relevant in your divorce.
You must be willing to listen to each other
Being a good listener is one of the greatest skills you can have when you decide to mediate a divorce. Mediation involves a series of discussion sessions where you and your spouse will hash out your differences regarding property division, child custody (if you have children together) and more. If both parties are not willing to listen to each other, it might be difficult, or even impossible, to achieve an agreeable settlement in a non-confrontational setting.
Additional skills that facilitate peaceful mediation
Besides being willing to listen, you must also be prepared to clearly state your needs and goals in relation to your divorce. You must also be able to resolve conflict in an amicable manner, such as disagreements about child custody issues or what should happen to your marital home after your divorce.
A neutral third party helps facilitate discussion sessions, whether you have chosen this type of conflict resolution or have been ordered by the court to enter mediation. You undoubtedly want a mediator who has established credibility in this area of law — someone you know will be fair and has the necessary skills to help keep the peace during discussions.
Your divorce need not be a knock-down, drag-out courtroom battle
You may have heard horror stories from friends or family members in Texas regarding divorce litigation. The fact is, however, that divorce does not always have to be a contentious, drawn-out legal battle in court. It is often possible to use alternative methods, such as mediation, to resolve your differences and achieve a fair settlement.
If you and your former partner are willing to cooperate and compromise, a mediated divorce may save you time and money and may help you avoid the type of high-level stress that couples who go toe-to-toe in court often experience.