Every year, thousands of American couples make the challenging decision to pursue a divorce. While most couples view divorce as a complicated process that will likely have to be resolved in court, other methods of resolving divorce-related conflicts are continually growing in popularity. Divorce mediation is an alternative dispute resolution strategy in which the two parties work together with a professional mediator to reach a divorce settlement. Mediation can be used to address issues such as child custody, property division, and spousal support payments. While mediation can be the most optimal strategy for resolving the outstanding issues in your divorce, mistakes can be made during the mediation process. Here are a few ways you can ensure that your mediation goes as smoothly as possible:

• Find the Right Mediator: Mediation can be a fantastic alternative to litigation in court, allowing a couple to resolve conflicts while a professional mediator facilitates the discussions and guides the parties toward a mutually agreeable compromise. In order for this process to work as well as possible, you and your spouse need to find the right mediator for you. Basic qualities you should look for in a mediator include experience and knowledge of your state’s divorce laws. On a personal level, you want to find a mediator that will be compassionate and understanding of both parties’ perspectives. 

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When a couple makes the difficult decision to pursue a divorce, it is entirely common to find that the emotional aspects of the separation will trump all other concerns. While this is a natural reaction to a separation from a person you once loved, it can be dangerous. Divorces can come with significant complications that can impact a person’s life for the foreseeable future. From marital asset allocation to issues pertaining to child custody, it is important to be organized and prepared as you navigate the divorce process. If you are unprepared, a divorce can significantly damage the health of your individual finances. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure that you will maintain a healthy and vibrant financial situation following your divorce: 

• Be Organized: Organization is critical during divorce, especially when it comes to finances. In order to be truly prepared to negotiate a divorce settlement, litigate disputes in court, or resolve issues through mediation, you need to have an in-depth understanding of your financial situation. This knowledge can be the difference between a financially healthy future and a fragile one. 

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When a couple makes the decision to pursue a divorce, both parties will face drastic changes in their life. For many people, the end of their marriage may threaten their financial security. If one spouse has conventionally brought in more income than the other, the other spouse may have difficulty maintaining their accustomed standard of living following the separation. Because of this, many divorcing spouses who earn less than their former partner will elect to pursue some level of spousal support. In cases involving spousal support, it is important to work with an attorney who can help you make sure you will be able to live a financially sustainable and healthy lifestyle. 

How Is Permanent Spousal Support Established? 

Commonly referred to as alimony, spousal support is is paid by one former spouse to the other. It is intended to ensure that both spouses will be able to maintain the lifestyle they enjoyed while married, and it can also help the lower-earning spouse meet their needs while they work to become financially independent. In the state of California, spousal support is established through in-depth consideration of a number of factors, including the standard of living established during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the supported party’s ability to secure employment. Spouses may be able to agree on an amount of alimony that will be paid, or a judge may order a certain amount of spousal support to be paid for a specific period of time.

How a Lawyer Can Assist With Spousal Support

During the divorce process, an attorney may help address spousal support in the following ways:

Coming to the conclusion that your marriage has broken down beyond repair can be a difficult truth to address. However, once you have decided that ending your marriage is the best decision for you and your family, it is time to begin preparing for the divorce process. Planning for your post-divorce life is especially important, since it will help you ensure that you can have a healthy financial future. However, in some cases, when a person knows or suspects that divorce is imminent, they may begin to hide assets from their spouse. This may be done as a way to avoid dividing property during the divorce or out of a desire to hurt one’s former partner. Whatever the reason, it is not only unfair to the other spouse, but it is illegal. If you suspect that your spouse is attempting to hide assets or income, you should speak with a knowledgeable divorce attorney as soon as possible. 

How Assets are Hidden

There are a number of ways a person may attempt to conceal marital assets from their spouse. One of the most common methods of doing so is by opening a secret bank account and withdrawing money from marital accounts. A person may also transfer money to another party to hold on to until the divorce is finalized, and they may claim that these transfers are being made to pay a person back for debts that never actually existed. A spouse may also secretly purchase assets such as valuables, collectibles, or real estate, or they may lie about the income they earn in hopes of reducing any child support or spousal support they would be required to pay following divorce. 

When a couple makes the difficult decision to pursue a divorce, unpacking the various complications and issues that must be addressed in order to dissolve the marriage can be incredibly challenging. From child custody to the division of marital assets, it should come as no surprise that many divorces result in heated disputes. However, it is possible to avoid lengthy and costly legal battles by using divorce mediation. Couples who choose this option are often able to reach a divorce settlement that meets their needs while avoiding the financial costs of litigation.

How Mediation Can Help You 

Pursuing mediation as a means of reaching a divorce settlement represents the most collaborative option possible. You and your former spouse will be able to work together to resolve the various issues surrounding the dissolution of your marriage. When it comes to finances, there are a number of reasons why mediation can be the best choice, primarily because mediation can expedite the divorce process, saving you a great deal of time and money. 

Mediation can also enable you and your ex-spouse to work together to address the financial aspects of your divorce. This process will allow you to maintain a greater level of organization, including determining a workable budget for your ongoing income and expenses and addressing the tax issues related to issues such as asset division and child custody. If necessary, the two of you can work with a tax accountant to determine the strategies that will minimize the total amount of taxes that you will each pay after the divorce is finalized.