Are you getting a divorce from your spouse, and plan on going through mediation? If so, you'll likely want to know what will happen during the process. Here are a few things that you need to know before you start mediation. 

Most Divorces Are Not Settled In Court

Many people assume that their divorce is going to go to trial like what happens in television and movies. The reality is that the majority of divorces are not settled in court. Your divorce doesn't have to be a public affair that is settled in court, since the odds are in your favor that mediation will work. While you don't have to go through divorce mediation, it can be a great way to work out disagreements. 

A Lawyer Is Not Required For Mediation

You do not have to use a lawyer for divorce mediation if you do not want to. It is completely optional, but it can be helpful to have a lawyer to guide you through mediation. A lawyer will help inform you of what your rights are at each step in the mediation process, which is something the mediator is not allowed to do since they are a neutral party. 

Share Documents With Your Spouse To Speed Things Up

Mediation is designed to be a collaborative effort between you and your spouse to reach an agreement and keep your divorce out of court. A common mistake that people make is treating the process as if it is combative, and trying to make things difficult for the other person. This is especially true when it comes to sharing financial documents that the other person needs. Know that you can be helpful when it comes to sharing documents, or slow things down and make it more expensive by having your spouse go through lawyers to make their requests. 

Identify Your Priorities Prior To Mediation

It's important that you think about what you want to get out of mediation so that you know what you want to prioritize. On the flip side, you'll also want to make a list of what you believe your spouse wants to get out of mediation as well. This can help you when it comes to compromising since you'll know what you have to give in order to get what you want. 

Looking for more tips for getting through mediation? Contact a company like Lerner conflict resolution center near you.