What Is Mediation?
In Colorado, all parties to a divorce case are required to go to mediation before a final hearing is scheduled. If you are the victim of domestic violence, you can ask the judge to remove this requirement.
Mediation is a way to solve disagreements by talking about them. It involves the use of a third party to help the couple find possible solutions.
How Does Mediation Work?
In mediation, there's a person called a mediator who helps everyone talk to each other. The mediator doesn’t take sides or tell anyone what to do. They are there to listen and help guide the conversation. The mediator’s job is to make sure everyone gets a chance to speak and to help find a solution that works for everyone.
1. Introduction: The mediator will put each party into their own separate “virtual room” on Zoom or WebEx. The mediator will then meet with each party separately to explains the rules.
2. Sharing Views: Each person tells the mediator their side of the story and what they hope to accomplish in mediation.
3. Discussing Options: Everyone suggests how they would like to see the divorce settled. This can include making suggestions for how much a party will pay in maintenance or child support, or how the parties will split up their property and debts.
4. Finding a Solution: The group agrees on a solution that works for everyone. If the parties agree, they will sign a Memorandum of Understanding, which is a written record of their agreement. This will then be filed with the Court.
Why Use Mediation?
Mediation is helpful because it:
Reduces Conflict: It helps people solve problems without fighting.
Encourages Cooperation: People learn to work together and understand each other.
Saves Time and Money: It's often quicker and cheaper than going to court.
Gives Control to the People Involved: Instead of having a judge decide, the people involved in the problem decide together.
Have questions about how to prepare for mediation? I have a blog post that can help.
While it’s not required that you have an attorney at mediation, I’m here to help if you would like to have an attorney review your case and help you evaluate any settlement offers.