• 06
  • February
    2012

Popular impressions of divorce paint the process as always involving a spiteful legal battle. However, common thought does not always reflect the reality of what divorcing couples are going through. Certainly, divorce is emotional, but, as many Colorado couples are finding, divorce mediation is the best option for them. This process is less contentious and can result in a more equitable settlement for both spouses.

Many couples would rather deal with each other in a civil manner than go through drawn-out court proceedings. Couples seeking the help of legal professionals to decide the terms of their divorce through mediation frequently find that their final settlement is fairer than if they had pursued other options for their divorce. Making sure you will be in a sound financial situation is especially important during the current economic recession.

According to the Colorado Judicial Branch, 72 percent of divorces were initiated with a legal separation last year, which is 60 percent higher than in 2007. Though there are no definitive statistics of how many couples chose to go through mediation, legal separation often leads to a mediated divorce.

Couples choosing mediation have observed that it works around a lot of the emotion that comes with divorce. Sitting down with professionals trained in mediation allows spouses to distribute their assets in a thoughtful manner, rather than letting emotions steer the divorce proceedings.

Certainly, dividing financial assets is often a tough thing to handle in any divorce. Yet an increasing number of people in Colorado are finding a better path through that process. For some, a mediated divorce may be the best thing to start healing and begin preparing for life after divorce.

Source: The Denver Post, "Mediation in divorce on the rise," David Migoya, Jan. 23, 2012