Why Divorce is Faster Through Mediation
Uncontested Divorce Mediation
Posted October 2, 2024
Getting a divorce takes time, but it doesn’t have to take as much time as you might think. Courtroom divorces can drag on, and you may already know that seeking an uncontested divorce is likely to go faster. But what if you still have disagreements? Denver divorce mediation provides the guided negotiation you need to more efficiently resolve disputes and put together a divorce agreement that is beneficial to both parties.
But just how long does divorce mediation take? It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months, depending on the divorce complexity, disputes to resolve, and the availability of the spouses to schedule mediation sessions. The experienced mediators of Split Simple can guide you through the matters that contribute to how long divorce mediation can take.
Preparing Your Documents
You can make your Denver divorce mediation process faster by first gathering your relevant documents and details. A divorce mediator will need to help you divide all marital assets, and that means a full record of your accounts, properties, and possessions. This includes stocks and shares, business ownership, houses, cars, and other equipment, high-value personal belongings, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and more. 
Having a full set of financial records can help your divorce mediator more quickly divide assets in a fair and reasonable fashion. You can also gather records related to child custody, your income situation, or other specific concerns that might influence the best way to navigate the divorce.
Prepare these documents before your Denver divorce mediation to save hours of time and multiple sessions getting everything together. If you are divorcing with Split Simple, we can provide you a pre-mediation checklist and will answer any questions you may have about preparing your documents through email or over the phone before your first session begins.
Splitting Marital Assets
Every divorce is unique, but the one thing they all share is the process of splitting marital assets. Therefore, this is the first issue you will tackle in Denver divorce mediation. The length of time depends on the amount of assets to split and how much spouses want to disagree over how things are divided.
Your divorce mediator will determine the best way to split assets to launch two separate lives. They will also try to ensure that both spouses are as satisfied as possible with what is included in their half.
For example, each person should be able to keep their favorite items for which their is no dispute, and negotiate for items both spouses love. retirement accounts should never be split, if it is possible to avoid, to avoid early withdrawal penalties. The mediator will seek to set up both spouses to creat their own household with the right combination of finances and possessions in the asset split.
If anything needs to be sold, like the house or a high-priced car, they will walk you through selling quickly and getting the best value.
Complex Asset Matters
The more complex a divorce, the longer it will take to complete Denver divorce mediation. For example, extracting divorcing spouses from a jointly owned business is every complex, while splitting a shared savins account and a few pieces of furniture is not complex. The more spouses own jointly, and the more Divorce their holdings, the more complex the divorce is likely to be.
Other aspects of complexity like child custody and hard-to-navigate disputes and ultimatums can also lengthen the time it takes to complete a successful divorce mediation. In some cases, spouses can decide to simplify matters with a quick agreement, but some assets are just inherently tough to split.
Creating a Child Custody Agreement
If there are children in the marriage, child custody is an important step in the Denver divorce mediation process. Devising the right custody agreement and co-parenting plan takes time, but using effective templates can speed up the process. Most child custody agreements in Colorado these days involve joint, shared and equal custody, in which both parents share equal parenting time and legal guardianship.
In joint custody, the most important element of the agreement is the co-parenting schedule. This determines when parents get their time with the kids, which is both a blessing and an obligation. Your co-parenting schedule is your initial way to split up holidays, determine where the children will live throughout the year, and plan for cooperation. Co-parenting schedule templates offer a variety of well-researched solutions for parents who both work and want to create stability for their children.
Mediating Disputes
Disputes are one of the most time-consuming elements of Denver divorce mediation. Of course, they are also what mediators are there to handle. Divorce can be difficult, both the emotions and the decisions. Spouses who are still angry may need time – sometimes in the middle of negotiations – to vent and work through their feelings. They may need to do this to admit how much they want to keep a specific item – or don’t want their ex to keep something special.
There are many types of divorce dispute. Mediators can help everyone keep a cool head and find the best compromise for everyone’s best interests. but when cooling down disputes takes time, it will naturally extend the time that Denver divorce mediation can take.
If you’re looking for a fast divorce negotiation, come to the mediation table with a cool head and willingness to compromise over most things.
Drafting the Divorce Documents
The final stage occurs when all matters have been addressed and your mediator draws up the divorce documents based on agreed terms. In some cases, a divorce mediator will need to consult with a lawyer for this phase to ensure the document meets court requirements. However, at Split Simple, our mediators are also attorneys who can both guide spouses toward a legally aligned divorce and draw up a divorce agreement that can be accepted by the court.
In other words, this process won’t take long, and is the final wrap-up of your Denver divorce mediation service.
If you are planning a divorce in Colorado, Split Simple can help. Our mediated divorces are measured in two-hour sessions, and many divorces can be handled in two sessions or fewer with our skilled attorney-mediators. Contact Split Simple today for your initial consultation.
1624 Market Street #202
Denver, CO 80202
720-501-4600