Is Divorce Mediation Faster than Litigation?
The divorce process is complicated and if you hire lawyers and go through the court system, you can easily expect it to take many months to resolve. You must work around the schedule of your attorneys as well as the judge and even the courtroom. The average divorce that is litigated can take anywhere between six to twenty-four months to complete. That means that your family may be in limbo for an extended period, which can take a huge emotional toll on you and your family, especially if you share kids.
You may have heard about the many benefits of using divorce mediation to settle the terms of your divorce. It is affordable, saves you money, takes less time than a court battle, is entirely confidential and allows you and your ex to shape your own future. It is important, however, not to underestimate how important it is to find the right mediator for you. Mediation only works if both parties voluntarily agree to participate, and the resolution is only successful if both parties really buy in. While your mediator does not decide how to settle your case, he/she serves as an incredibly important role in the process. Jeff Johnson, founder of Johnson Mediation, is a trusted and capable mediator that brings both extraordinary skill and personal experience with divorce to each case he works on.
2024 is finally here and many of us have made New Year’s resolutions or maybe just some broad goals to strive for in the new year. Whether your goals include exercise, improved health, interpersonal improvements, mindfulness, commitment to reducing time on your phone, there is likely at least one theme of most of our new year’s goals – peace. Relaxing, reducing conflict in your life and self-care all contribute to finding that peace in the new year. Johnson Mediation believes that the services that we provide can help you and your family find peace in certain situations. If you have made the very difficult
When you decide to use divorce mediation to resolve the terms of your divorce, it is critically important to understand the role of the mediator. A mediator is not like a judge in a divorce case. While a judge hears both sides of a legal argument and makes a determination. Mediation is entirely voluntary, and a mediator does not render a verdict in your case. Instead, your mediator will facilitate a series of discussions that will empower the two parties to come to a decision together. Here are some key elements of the role of a mediator when it comes to the divorce process
When it comes to the legal divorce process, every state is a bit different. It is important to understand the divorce law in your state so that you can plan accordingly and make informed decisions. Minnesota is a no-fault state, meaning that you do not have to establish that your spouse did something wrong in order to qualify for divorce. You can simply state that you have an irretrievable breakdown in the marriage. This is important because it means that a divorce will be approved even if only one party wants it. In addition, as a no-fault state, the court does not make decisions about custody, division of property or spousal maintenance based on whether one spouse was at fault in the dissolution of the marriage.
The traditional divorce process pits you and your ex against each other, with opposing lawyers trying to outmaneuver the other. For many divorcing couples, the traditional court process means more conflict, more stress (both financial and emotional) and fewer opportunities to work toward a common goal keeping your family first. The team at Johnson Mediation works with couples in Minnesota to offer an alternative to the traditional divorce process. Here are a few of the downsides to the traditional divorce process:
