Making Divorce More Affordable Through Mediation

If you and your spouse are approaching the divorce process, a handful of options may be on the table. For example, you may have to go to court, or you could be able to save money and stay out of the courtroom by working with a divorce lawyer and a mediator. Our Salt Lake City, Utah law firm understands how emotionally and financially straining divorce can be and we are committed to helping couples achieve a successful outcome.

According to the Utah State Courts, divorce mediation is proven to be less costly than heading to trial. Moreover, you may be able to make your divorce less time-consuming and secure an end result that works out better for both parties by turning to a divorce mediator. If you are exploring your options with your current spouse, you may want to discuss the benefits of mediation, if possible. Unfortunately, some couples are not able to take this route and have to take their case to court.

Typically, couples who opt for mediation split the expenses, which accumulate on an hourly basis. There are a number of factors that may affect how much you pay when working with a mediator, such as your income and the intricacy of your case. Aside from the financial benefits of reaching out to a mediator, mediation may also provide you with a greater sense of fulfillment.

Regardless of the decisions you make, it is essential to carefully evaluate your set of circumstances with regard to divorce. On our mediation services page, you can access more material concerning divorce mediators.

WHAT SHOULD YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR UTAH PARENTING PLAN?

Like other Utah parents who have decided to raise their children separately, you may use a parenting plan. Such plans are agreements between people who share a child in common. They outline how you and your child’s other parent will raise and share time with your child. In order to create stability and predictability in your life, there are a number of elements you should include in your parenting plan.

Perhaps the most commonly included element in parenting plans is a residential schedule. According to the Utah Courts, visitation schedules stipulate which parent has the child on specific days. This should include birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. You might even find it helpful to include vacations in your parenting plan.

When co-parenting, situations may arise in which you and your child’s other parent disagree on what is best for your child. In order to help resolve such disagreements, it may be useful for you to include the methods you will use to reach a decision in your parenting plan. Having a plan in place ahead of time may help avoid further disagreements regarding how to handle a dispute. Additionally, it will ensure you are able to put your child’s needs first and reach a decision.

The Utah Courts point out that while a child is living with a parent, he or she is responsible for making the day-to-day decisions. Additionally, the law specifies that either parent is able to make emergency decisions regarding their child’s health and safety. There are, however, a number of other decisions that may come up when raising a child. It may be of benefit to include statements about whether you, your child’s other parent or both of you will share the responsibility of making decisions about your child’s health care, education and religious upbringing.

Situations may arise that cause you or your child’s other parent to want to relocate. In order to avoid a long, drawn out dispute, your parenting plan should include stipulations for relocations. This may include how much notice must be given before a move and how the changes to the parenting schedule will be handled.

Free Consultation with Divorce Lawyer

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We will help you.