Child custody is one of several issues you can resolve in the divorce mediation process. Doing so is, for most people, a preferable alternative to going through court litigation to handle the issue.
Here are just a few examples of some of the benefits of using mediation for developing a child custody arrangement.
You have control over the results: This is the single-biggest benefit of mediating child custody for most people. You and your spouse will be able to decide where your children live, how much time both parents will spend with the children, how you’ll deal with holidays and vacation, how you’ll make decisions regarding issues like education, health and religion, and other important issues involved with raising a child. You and your spouse know your children better than anyone, so rather than leaving these decisions up to a judge who does not know your children at all, you can take control over making decisions in their interest.
It helps establish good communication: Mediation helps parents practice good communication and problem-solving skills that will be crucial for them moving forward in a co-parenting arrangement.
It’s less stressful for the children: Mediation minimizes conflict and prevents children from being in an awkward spot between parents who are having a knock-down, drag-out fight in court. When parents can work together to develop custody arrangements, it puts much less stress on the children.
Both parents are more likely to comply: When parents reach a mutually agreeable decision in mediation on child custody issues, both are far more likely to comply with the terms of the arrangement. This prevents the parties from having to return to court to address those issues all over again.
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