Just when you saw a glimpse of light at the end of your divorce journey, yet another dispute arose to delay ending your marriage. This time, you and your co-parent cannot agree on a child custody and parenting plan.
A family court can work out your child custody arrangements, but you might not be happy with the results. Another option is using mediation to create a custody plan that poses the fewest hardships for all.
What are the advantages of child custody mediation?
Arguably, the top benefit of mediation involves preserving your child’s mental well-being. Divorce negotiations are traumatic for everyone, but the cooperative nature of mediation typically reduces the psychological effects of divorce on children.
More possible benefits to consider:
- Reduces divorce costs
- Encourages parental collaboration
- Allows freedom of expression between parties
- Concludes faster (usually) than courtroom proceedings
- Creates less stress and anxiety than traditional negotiations
- Improves current and future communications between co-parents
Instead of battling out your disputes before a court, mediation allows you and your co-parent to discuss the issues in a calm, safe environment. An unbiased mediator oversees your negotiations and helps everyone stay on task.
Will it work in your situation?
Most of the time, mediation is effective in helping parents create satisfactory custody and parenting plans. However, there is a small risk that it will not work for you.
In most cases, experienced legal guidance can help parents determine if the benefits of custody mediation outweigh the risk of failure. Learning more about mediating child custody disputes in Florida can also guide your decision-making.