Getting divorced from your spouse in Massachusetts may surface a lot of strong emotions. Maintaining a realistic perspective and making rational decisions may seem next to impossible while trying to sort through your feelings.
If your partner has narcissistic tendencies, you may feel as though you will lose everything. In circumstances like this, mediation provides an objective third-party that can facilitate the negotiation process and mitigate disagreements.
Understanding mediation
Knowing the mediation process can help you see its value. According to The Department of Health and Human Services, a mediation provides a controlled environment in which you can discuss your concerns, needs and expectations. You and your spouse will need to follow the protocols set forth by the mediator. These could include rules such as only one person speaking at a time. You may also need to agree to keep details confidential.
Assessing whether or not mediation is right for you is a personal decision. However, you may benefit from working with a mediator if you and your spouse struggle communicating, if you want your divorce to close as quickly as possible or if you fear that your spouse will take everything.
Benefiting from mediation
Perhaps the most obvious advantage of mediation is that someone else can do the majority of the communicating and negotiating between you and your partner. You can come prepared to mediation with your list of requests and expectations and rely on someone else to facilitate the negotiation.
Another benefit of mediation is that you can more effectively customize your portion of the divorce settlement. If leveraged the right way, mediation can also help you preserve your reputation and avoid ongoing legal battles.
