Barrington Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Potential Benefits And Drawbacks Of Divorce Mediation In Illinois

Many divorcing couples find that mediation is a constructive method for resolving complex or highly contentious issues in a low-stress environment. Disagreements do not need to become a full-blown war, and the assistance of skilled attorneys and mediators can often settle disputes in an effective way.

Beyond promoting amicable resolutions, mediating a divorce is often far more cost-effective and prompt. It circumvents much of the expense and time of going to trial while arriving at the same outcome. Finally, divorce mediation allows both parties to retain control over decisions instead of allowing a judge to arbitrarily dictate the outcome. This can be especially important for decisions that affect the parties' children. The greatest downside to mediation is the fact that the mediator is a neutral party and not allowed to give legal advice. This can be a problem because the divorcing individuals often need concrete guidance about their legal rights, options, and responsibilities. For this reason, it is wise to engage the help of an attorney as well as a mediator.