MamasHealth.com Home Divorce Breaking the news Children and divorce Choosing the best Lawyer Dealing with legal fees Divorce: step by step Divorce support group Ex-spouse after divorce Ex-spouse and favors Finding love after divorce First date After divorce Forgiving your Ex Frequently asked questions From Ex-spouse to friend Full Service Lawyer Helping your child cope Holidays and birthdays Holidays and divorce Living alone Managing conflict Mediation myths Mediation: pros and cons Non-Custodial Parent Parenting Plans and Mediation Protecting your child Recover from divorce Speak with respect Stop being angry Telling your child The power of dogs Unmarried/Gay and Lesbian Issues Visitations after divorce Work with your attorney Links Email Mama Arguing and your children Domestic violence Step-family relationships Dating Dating after divorce Divorce and your credit Infidelity Leave an abuser	Divorce Mediation: Frequently Asked Questions by Kim Hess If you are considering mediation as a means of your divorce settlement, you may have many questions. It’s important that you understand or at least have a basic knowledge before making a decision to make this process really work. Why use mediation? There are a lot of benefits of using mediation. Mediation can help you save money. It can also help create a cooperative atmosphere between you and your ex-spouse. At what point should you use mediation? If you can, use mediation as early as possible. It is not necessary to wait until your ex-spouse moves out of the house or changes bank accounts before starting mediation. How do you choose a mediator? Choose your mediator carefully because your choice will affect the success of your mediation. You will want to know his or her qualification and experience before hiring a mediator. Questions to ask your mediator (link to http://www.mamashealth.com/divorce2/considermed.asp) How much does mediation cost? An average mediation costs about $2,000 per couple. This cost is significantly less than hiring an attorney to assist you. How long does it take? Mediation takes about six to twelve weeks. However, the timeframe will largely depend on the complexity of your issues. In most cases, mediation takes less time than a court-litigated divorce. Will a mediator make any decisions for us? A mediator can not make decisions for you. However, the mediator will you and your ex-spouse make decisions that will benefit both parties. Will the mediator take sides? A good mediator is not biased. That is why it is important to choose a competent and trained mediator in order to make sure that he or she is able to help the divorcing couple without taking sides.	Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Marketing you can trust
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