Divorce is a stressful process, regardless of whether it’s amicable or not. Unfortunately, a significant portion of couples cannot agree on the terms of their divorce, making their divorce a “contested” one. That said, if you are currently in a contested divorce, you may wonder whether you’ll have to go to court to resolve your divorce terms. Please continue reading and reach out to a dedicated Shelby County, Tennessee divorce lawyer from our legal team to learn more.
Will I have to go to court for my divorce?
If you are in a contested divorce, you will likely have to go to trial, wherein you and your attorney, as well as your spouse and their attorney, will present your cases in front of a judge, and the outcome of your divorce will likely be determined by a judge or jury. As you can imagine, having your divorce litigated in a courtroom setting can make for quite a contentious process, especially as terms of child custody, child support, alimony, and property division are discussed. Fortunately, for spouses who think they may be able to reach a compromise together, there are alternative methods of divorce available, the most common of those methods being mediation.
What are the benefits of divorce mediation?
The primary benefit of divorce mediation is that it is a more private, lower-stakes method of divorce. To start, mediation is done outside of a courtroom setting in a neutral environment. Additionally, a divorce mediator is an unbiased third party who is appointed to simply facilitate conversation and help spouses work out any contested divorce-related issues. As long as both spouses can compromise with one another, they should reach an outcome that works best for both of them. Of course, as with any compromise, there must be some give and take, however, the outcome is often more favorable for both spouses than if a judge were to determine their agreement. An added benefit of mediation for divorcing parents is that it’s often easier on their children for them to see their parents reach an agreement amicably without having to get dragged through a protracted legal batter in a courtroom.
If you have any additional questions about divorce mediation or you believe this is the best option for you, please don’t hesitate to speak with a competent Memphis, Tennessee divorce mediation lawyer from Rice Law to learn more about your options.
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If you require strong legal representation for matters of divorce and family law in Memphis or anywhere in Tennessee, contact Rice Law to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today.
