Drafting a Divorce Settlement in Mediation

The mediation process can go quickly or take some time, depending on the complexity of the issues of your divorce and the willingness of both parties to collaborate and compromise. Eventually, though, you will finally reach the stage where you have agreed on all of the issues of your divorce and are ready to draft the settlement document.

This is the stage you’ve been working for throughout your entire mediation process. This settlement agreement will go to court for filing so it will be legally enforceable.

Here are a few things you should know about your divorce settlement.

• You can (and should) review: Both spouses and their attorneys will have the chance to carefully review that settlement agreement before you sign. Take advantage of this opportunity to make sure everything outlined in the document accurately reflects the agreements you made in your mediation sessions.
• Sign the document: Signing the document is a crucial step in finalizing the divorce. Once you are satisfied the document reflects your agreements, sign it according to instructions.
• File it in court: Signing the settlement agreement does not finalize the divorce. The parties must file that agreement with the court and ask the judge to include it with the final divorce decree. Some mediators might handle this process for you. Before you begin mediation, make sure you ask the mediator how they handle document filing.

To learn more about how to create and ultimately file your divorce settlement documentation, contact an experienced Long Island divorce lawyer at Solutions Divorce Mediation.