The end of a marriage can be a time of great uncertainty, and you don't need prior experience with a divorce lawyer to understand that a lot of very important decisions need to be made. Chief among them is how you want to go about resolving the legal issues relating to the marriage. Both traditional divorce proceedings and mediation get you to that ultimate goal, but they do so via distinctly different paths. Below is an overview of divorce and mediation, the role a divorce lawyer plays in each, and how to determine which is the right choice for you and your spouse.

Divorce

In a traditional divorce situation, family law courts and judges help determine how assets and property are divided, what child custody arrangements are enacted, and who will pay child or spousal support. Each spouse typically hires their own divorce lawyer to communicate and negotiate on their behalf; the attorneys also handle all the proceedings of the divorce, such as submitting the appropriate paperwork and filing legal motions and requests. A divorce lawyer defuses some of the volatile emotions and contentious issues involved by taking them out of the hands of the couple and into the jurisdiction of the courts.

Mediation

Mediation is a better option for spouses who are able to be civil, maintain communication, and still work together to some degree. The process entails each partner discussing the legal considerations of the marriage’s end--such as who will get what property and how child custody will be arranged--and reaching mutually agreeable solutions. In a mediation, both spouses often hire a single divorce lawyer to conduct the process, but the attorney serves more as an adviser who keeps discussions and negotiations on track. They still take care of much of the paperwork and red tape of getting divorced, but the actual decision-making and negotiating are left to the divorcing spouses.

Divorce is a smart choice for those couples who require the support and guidance of the courts to make important decisions. Mediation is better suited to those who can come together for a common goal, talk openly and peaceably with one another, and be willing to compromise in order to resolve the marriage. The divorce lawyers at JP Coleman Law, LLC, Attorneys at Law are here to help with whatever option you deem most appropriate for your family. They serve clients with knowledge and compassion throughout Baldwin County, Alabama, in family law, criminal defense, and probate issues. Call (251) 947-6247 or visit their website to set up a free initial consultation.