There are a number of advantages to settling your divorce through mediation rather than taking your case to court. It can be significantly less expensive, for one — and in almost every case, it will be faster, as well. In Minnesota, nearly every divorce case will be required to at least attempt mediation prior to asking a judge to make a final decision on your divorce issues.
That being said, the mediation process can still take some time, as it’s not really as simple as going to one meeting and being done with the process. The following are some factors related to how long your divorce will take when engaged in mediation:
- How many assets you own. If you and your spouse own a great deal of assets and property, the longer the process will likely take. This is often simply because there are more items to inventory and discuss. Documents need to be presented and exchanged by the parties prior to mediation.
- The number of issues you have to resolve. Some couples are able to work through issues quickly, while others need to take some time to consider each other’s position and find amicable solutions. This is particularly true when it comes to things like property division, child custody and child support.
- Whether you need to create a custody arrangement and visitation schedule. Former spouses may be more likely to compromise on issues involving assets and finances than they are matters related to their kids. If you need to agree on a custody arrangement and visitation schedule, coming to an agreement that works for all parties is likely to be one of the most challenging parts of the process.
- How well you get along. If you are willing to compromise with each other and be relatively civil throughout the mediation process, you can expect it to go much more smoothly than if there is a lot of conflict.
The length of the divorce mediation process varies from case to case. To learn more, consult a knowledgeable Minnesota family law attorney with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A. today.
