Arizona Mediation: The Cost-Effective Choice in Divorce

When it comes to mediation versus getting lawyers and going to court, many people feel mediation is the "nice" way out. Some people even think they won't get what they deserve if they go with mediation. That is simply not true. Mediation is just an easier way to get divorced. Arizona mediation professionals know that you are going through an emotional time and most just want to help. Mediators can help you through the legal negotiating aspects of a divorce much easier and more quickly than going to court with lawyers.

One of the biggest reasons why people choose to go with mediation is because it can be significantly cheaper than hiring lawyers. Oftentimes, you can save thousands of dollars. Fees vary, but in Arizona, you can get a divorce through a mediator for $2,000 to $4,000. That's a fee that's split between the divorced couple, not per individual. People easily spend that much on one lawyer. Mediators generally charge between $100 and $200 per hour, depending on location.

Your total cost will depend upon how much time it takes to get through all the paperwork and face-to-face meetings with the mediator. You can expect to spend around 10 to 15 hours with a mediator, which translates into the price ranged stated earlier. This leads to another advantage of mediation: it takes less time than going to court. You could be done with the mediation portion, or the negotiating portion, of a divorce in as little as six weeks (not including paperwork filing time) with a mediator. If you go to divorce court with lawyers, the negotiating process could drag on for months and sometimes even years. With mediation, you don't have to worry about court dates and the court dragging things out because the court isn't involved. How long it takes is up to the spouses involved.

Another reason why people choose mediation is because Arizona mediation professionals don't make decisions for the couple. You get to make your own decisions and the mediator is there to help you stay informed and to make sure you aren't leaving anything out of the paperwork, legally speaking. Mediation is the closest "do-it-yourself" type of divorce you can get. The mediator won't try to push either party into anything because mediation is all about collaboration, not trying to get the most stuff from the other party.

Arizona mediation professionals help couples achieve an agreement that satisfies both parties in everything from child visitation to future asset management. Each person gets to help decide the outcome of the divorce. When you go to court and you're fighting for what you want, there's no compromise from the judge. A judge will rule for or against you. In mediation, however, each spouse gets to have his or her say and the other can compromise with the help of the mediator.
Good mediators don't take sides. They are impartial and are focused on helping the couple get through the divorce quickly and as easily as possible. Good mediators know all the divorce laws and can answer your questions about taxes, divorce paperwork and just about anything else about divorce. If not, the mediator should be able to find the answer for you within a short amount of time.

Arizona mediation professionals often recommend that each spouse have his or her lawyer look at the final paperwork before signing anything. Lawyers generally aren't present at mediation meetings, but are just used to make sure everything is correct in the paperwork and that the paperwork is fair to her client. Using a lawyer for an hour or two to go over paperwork can save thousands of dollars, where as using a lawyer for a court battle will certainly cost a bundle.

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