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How Long Does Divorce Mediation Take?: Complete Timeline
The Philadelphia divorce mediators at Peaceful Separation and Divorce address the question; how long does divorce mediation take? This article describes how long divorce mediation takes both in terms of number of sessions and session length as well as factors affecting the length.
If you and your spouse are considering divorce mediation, call an experienced divorce mediator at Peaceful Separation and Divorce and resolve your divorce issues yourselves, without the court intervening and deciding what’s best for your family. The litigated divorce process and going to court is stressful, very time consuming and expensive. Alternative dispute resolution, such as divorce mediation, is the opposite.
How Long Divorce Mediation Typically Takes
In our experience, the divorce mediation process takes 2-5 sessions, but this depends upon the number of issues you want to resolve through mediation, the complexity of those issues, the innate ability of each party to digest information and make decisions, and the willingness of the parties to negotiate and compromise.
How Long Divorce Mediation Sessions Last
A typical mediation session lasts from 1-2 hours, but this depends upon the couple’s tolerance for the negotiation process as you attempt to reach an agreeable Marital Settlement Agreement. You will know well in advance how long your session is scheduled for.
A session may be cut short if a couple hits a metaphorical brick wall, to give the parties time to reflect and consult with their attorneys if necessary.
What Makes Divorce Mediation Take Longer
There are a number of factors that may extend the timeline of the divorce mediation process, such as:
- Number of issues to resolve
- Child custody discussions
- Amount of assets or complexity of marital property and/or finances
- Willingness to compromise by both parties
Number of Issues to Resolve
If you both agree on most issues, such as child custody and property distribution, but disagree on support, this may shorten the time you need to mediate. If you initially disagree on all issues arising from your divorce, your mediator will have to take time to discuss your individual priorities and help you compromise and find middle ground.
Child Custody Discussions
Child custody mediation is frequently the most emotionally charged issue to resolve in a divorce. If the parties are far apart in their preferred custody arrangements, it will likely take some time for a mediator to guide them towards an agreement.
Amount of Assets or Complexity of Marital Finances
In a high asset divorce where there may be family money or a family owned business involved, or there are significant unrealized assets such as stock options and pension plans, the complexity of the marital financial situation requires more time to understand and to negotiate. Your mediator has access to neutral financial experts to assist in valuing marital assets so both parties negotiate knowing exactly what the financial ramifications of their decisions are.
Willingness to Compromise by Both Parties
Willingness and cooperation are the most important elements to effective divorce mediation. Without mutual willingness to compromise, the time involved in mediation may be extended.
How to Ensure a Quicker Divorce Mediation Process
Be Willing to Compromise
As stated before, both parties must come to divorce mediation ready to negotiate and compromise. This means while you may not get everything you want initially, with the help of the divorce mediator you will arrive at solutions that are best for your family and that satisfy you both.
Proper Preparation
Failing to provide necessary documentation of your income, expenses, assets, and debts is not an effective use of your time or money.
Your divorce mediator will give you a list of documents to provide in advance such as pay stubs, last year’s tax return, recent bank, investment, and pension statements, a list of assets such as real property, vehicles, art, collectibles, and jewelry, your monthly expenses, and credit card and mortgage statements showing the amount of marital debt. If necessary, your divorce mediator will help you connect with experts who appraise your assets, or the parties can agree to work with a joint expert, who will be neutral.
How Long After Mediation is a Divorce Finalized?
If you resolve all issues arising from your divorce in divorce mediation, it is simply a matter of completing the required forms, paying a filing fee, and filing these forms with the Clerk of Court. This concludes in a matter of weeks, depending on the county where you reside.
If issues remain unresolved in divorce mediation, litigation may be necessary and this can take weeks or months to conclude.
Divorce Agreement Drafting
Some divorce mediators draft your final divorce documents for you, and others do not.
Court Filing
If all issues arising from your divorce or other matter resolve through mediation, you can file your final agreement with the Clerk of Court.
Waiting Period
As long as you both agree to divorce, you must wait only 90 days from the day you file for divorce to have your divorce finalized with a final divorce decree.
Talk with a Divorce Mediator at Peaceful Separation and Divorce
We have over 40 years of experience helping Philadelphia area families determine what their lives will be like after divorce. For personalized guidance from an experienced divorce mediation lawyer who successfully navigated alternative divorce methods for over years. Let us help you have the most peaceful negotiation possible while making decisions for your family yourselves, rather than allowing a judge to do it. Call an experienced mediator today.
