What is divorce mediation?
Divorce mediation is spouses discussing and deciding the terms of their divorce with help from a mediator. Here are three important things to know about divorce mediation:
- Spouses discuss divorce topics together, during one or more meetings with their mediator.
- Spouses are the decision makers in divorce mediation, not lawyers or judges.
- The mediator is impartial, never taking sides for or against either spouse.
In my office, about 9 in 10 couples who try mediation reach agreement on all important divorce matters. In Pennsylvania, spouses who reach an agreement in mediation can divorce without setting foot in court.
Cost of divorce mediation in Pennsylvania
Timeline for a mediation divorce in Pennsylvania
What to expect in divorce mediation
In a mediation divorce, spouses have two important jobs:
- Discussing terms of divorce. Spouses must be willing to talk to each other during meetings with their divorce mediator. Some divorce topics may be hard to discuss, but their mediator will help.
- Deciding terms of divorce. Spouses are the decision makers in divorce mediation. They should expect to make decisions for themselves and their family.
Steps in a Pennsylvania mediation divorce
Three tips for a more peaceful divorce mediation
Some divorcing couples come to mediation with many terms of agreement already worked out. Others come to mediation without any idea of where to start. Either way is fine. They can count on their divorce mediator to help them divorce.
What is a divorce mediator?
A divorce mediator is a person who helps spouses divorce peacefully, without fighting in court. A divorce mediator:
- helps spouses discuss all important divorce topics, so nothing is missed,
- offers information to help divorcing wives and husbands may make informed decisions together,
- stays impartial, never taking sides for or against either spouse.
A divorce mediator works to make divorce as peaceful as possible. The calm and patient presence of a divorce mediator helps spouses discuss and decide important, even difficult, issues together.
Free consultation about divorce mediation
Spouses and divorcing parents may not know all the issues they must decide when divorcing. An experienced divorce mediator makes sure they discuss all important:
- legal topics
- tax issues
- parenting matters
- financial considerations
Divorcing spouses need information to help them make informed decisions. A mediator can offer information to both spouses during divorce mediation sessions. For example, a divorce mediator may share information about ways to:
- calculate spousal support and alimony,
- distribute a home in divorce,
- distribute retirement accounts in a way that lowers or avoids taxes and penalties.
A licensed attorney since 1988, I left the courtroom behind in 2012. Now I share my knowledge of Pennsylvania divorce law with spouses who want to divorce without setting foot in court.
Learn about Dann Johns, Divorce Mediator & Attorney
For divorcing moms and dads, a mediator can offer information about how to:
- calculate child support,
- set up a child custody schedule,
- deal with a child's college expenses.
Divorce mediation benefits for parents
Always, a divorce mediator remains impartial which means:
- not taking sides,
- not judging who is right or wrong.
Spouses find it easier to reach a divorce agreement when they know their mediator is a completely neutral helper.
Does each spouse need their own lawyer for divorce mediation?
Divorce mediation for you and your spouse
Consider sharing this website with your spouse. If both of you are interested in a mediation divorce, the next step is to schedule a free consultation about divorce mediation.
To learn more about divorce mediation, visit the site map (helpful summary of each page of this website) or search by topic using the navigation menu.
I wish you and your spouse much peace and well-being!
Dann JohnsDivorce Mediator & Attorney