Florida couples who are getting divorced can take different paths toward dissolving their marriage. One way is to choose mediation, an alternative dispute resolution method. Mediation can provide many benefits for divorcing couples, but whether ordered by the court or agreed upon by the spouses, there are times when one of the spouses might be resistant to the process. If you find yourself dealing with an uncooperative spouse, you can do several things to try to help them open up to mediation.
Mediation comes with benefits
There are many reasons why spouses choose mediation over a drawn-out, expensive court battle. The benefits couples can receive from this family law process include:
- Maintaining privacy over their financial and family matters
- Keeping control over the decisions that will affect their family
- Learning to work together and communicate effectively
- Resolving divorce issues in less time and often by spending less money
Convince them of your good intentions
Even spouses who agree to mediation might not trust the intentions of their soon-to-be ex-spouse. However, mediation is also an ideal way to show your spouse that you want to overcome the conflicts in your relationship, learn to communicate in a more positive manner and that you are committed to both of you starting your new single lives positively. If you have children together, mediation can also be a way for you to create a parenting agreement that is sensitive to the needs of all the family members. Through this process, you can remind your spouse that you are both on the same page when it comes to your family, even if your relationship has ended.
An important part of the process will be finding the right mediator for your situation. Once you both agree that you have found one that can work with the challenges and conflicts in your relationship, you can focus on resolving those issues and move on.