Why You Should Consider Mediation in Your Family Law Case

Why You Should Consider Mediation in Your Family Law Case


By: Gordon & Perlut, LLC

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that can be extremely helpful and effective in a variety of family law cases. Mediation, like other forms of alternative dispute resolution, is designed to make dispute resolution easier for the parties involved and allow parties who are engaged in a dispute to avoid the courtroom.

Other examples of ADR in Illinois can include arbitration and collaborative law. Each type of ADR has its own procedures, and it is important to speak with a Chicago area family law lawyer about options that may be available to you.

In Chicago and northeast Illinois, most family law cases involving mediation are governed in part by the Uniform Mediation Act (710 ILCS 35/). There are many different reasons to consider mediation when you are facing a family law dispute, and we want to give you more information about those reasons.

Costs Are Lower

One of the primary benefits of mediation is cost is frequently much lower than taking a case to court. If you can resolve your family law dispute through mediation, you will be able to avoid expensive court costs and litigation associated with multiple hearings and courtroom appearances, and other costs associated with litigation (depositions, discovery, etc).

Dispute Resolution Can Occur More Quickly

Another benefit of mediation is that dispute resolution often can occur much more quickly than if you take your case to court. Often, a dispute can be resolved in a single mediation session.

Proceedings Are Private

Mediation is private, which means only the parties involved in the mediation have access to the information being shared. Unlike court proceedings, details from mediation are not made public (except any final court Orders entered as a result).

Parties Are More Involved in the Process of Dispute Resolution

Unlike in a court hearing, parties engaged in the dispute are much more involved in the process of resolution. To be sure, the parties engage in dialogue with one another in order to negotiate and ultimately reach an agreement.

Communication Between the Parties Often Improves

When parties in a family law dispute engage in mediation, their communication skills with one another often improve. For parents who are going through a divorce, improved communication can be extremely helpful in the months and years to come, especially regarding co-parenting and shared parental responsibilities.

You Can Still Go to Court if Mediation Does Not Work

Mediation is not final, and a mediator does not make any kind of decision or ruling about your case. (In this way, mediation is much different from arbitration — another kind of alternative dispute resolution — in which the arbitrator does make a final decision.) Accordingly, if you cannot reach an agreement concerning your dispute in mediation, you will still have the option of going to court without losing any significant amount of time in the process.

Contact a Chicago area Mediator for More Information

If you have questions or concerns about mediation and your family law dispute, one of our experienced Chicago mediation attorneys can assist you. Contact Gordon & Perlut, LLC for more information about how our firm helps individuals and families with a wide variety of family law matters.