Common Red Flags in Divorce Mediation

It’s certainly worth giving divorce mediation a shot if you think you and your spouse could make it work. After all, mediation cuts down on the length of the divorce (as well as the cost) and allows both spouses to take control over the issues of their divorce.

However, it is important to carefully analyze the behavior of your spouse during the process. If you notice a number of red flags popping up, there’s a chance mediation might not work out for you and you will need to move on to a different form of dispute resolution.

Here are a few examples of some of these red flags.

• Constant canceling or rescheduling: For mediation to work, both parties have to actually show up. If one spouse is constantly canceling or rescheduling to the point where it becomes impossible to actually have a meeting, this could be a sign that they do not take the mediation seriously and thus cannot be trusted to make it work.
• Lack of materials: If one spouse routinely fails to bring necessary documents and materials, this could be a sign that they will not be able to handle mediation.
• Silence: If the parties simply do not participate in the conversation, then mediation will not work. Both parties must be willing to contribute, otherwise there can be no negotiation.
• Tension or arguments: If tension or arguments carry over into the negotiation room and compromise the ability to have positive conversations about divorce issues, this could be a sign that mediation will not work.

Carefully pay attention to the behavior of your spouse during the first mediation session and be honest with yourself about whether the process will truly work for you. For more advice about divorce mediation, speak to a trusted Long Island divorce lawyer at Solutions Divorce Mediation.