What kinds of actions can undermine mediation?
Divorce mediation can be an invaluable tool for those who want to make the process of ending their relationships as quick and painless as possible. However, mediation is also a rather fragile process, and it doesn’t take much for one party to feel like the other is being too adversarial for it to work. Here are a few of the things to avoid when you are working through a divorce mediation.
One of the biggest things to avoid is dating. While you may want to focus on moving on quickly, there are often still a lot of feelings involved with couples who are divorcing. If your soon-to-be ex-finds out that you are already romantically involved with someone or actively looking for a new partner, there could be enough of a flare up in the anger and resentment to stall or put a complete stop to your mediation negotiations.
It’s also a good idea to avoid airing your divorce on any social media. While you’re at it, you’ll also want to avoid snooping on what your ex is doing too. Social media pages are fair game if the mediation doesn’t work out and the case ends up going to trial. Keeping track of what your ex is saying or doing makes it harder for you to be objective in the mediation process.
It’s best to go over what you should avoid and what is OK during the mediation with your lawyer. Having this conversation early on in the process makes it easier for you to be able to give mediation your best effort.
Source: Forbes, “Divorcing Women: Don’t Make These Five Costly Mistakes,” accessed Feb. 12, 2016
Laughlin & Company Lawyers Mediators
2755 Lougheed Hwy #710, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 5Y9
(604) 945-4370