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Divorce Mediation Vs. Litigation: Key Differences and Pros and Cons

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Divorce Mediation Vs. Litigation: Key Differences and Pros and Cons

Why do many divorce attorneys and courts recommend divorce mediation vs. litigation? How are they different? Why is mediation usually the preferred option?

Divorce mediation is technically a step or a phase of litigation known as Alternative Dispute Resolution. However, it is often thought of as an entirely separate process outside of traditional divorce because of its many benefits.

Divorce litigation technically refers to the overall divorce process, from filing the initial petition to reaching a final resolution.

But, when people say they had a litigated divorce, they mean they had to move their case through the court system and prove it before a judge during a trial or evidentiary hearing. They usually are specifically referring to taking their divorce case to a final trial in family court.

From a bird’s-eye view, the steps to divorce—or the divorce litigation process—are:

  1. Someone files an initial petition or complaint;
  2. A response is filed 
  3. Disclosure and discovery are completed
  4. Alternative dispute resolution is attempted
  5. Then there is a final resolution.

To reach a final resolution, either the parties must reach an agreement, or the court must decide on issues like child custody, child support, spousal support (alimony), and other divorce issues.

This article will focus on mediation—a form of phase 4 alternative dispute resolution—and what is commonly referred to as litigation—phase 5 final resolution by an evidentiary hearing.

Continue reading to learn why mediation—the more collaborative, controlled, efficient, and private path—is usually preferred over you vs. your soon-to-be ex-spouse litigating your divorce.

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Meditation is Collaborative, While Litigation is Adversarial

Divorce mediation is a more collaborative process than litigation.

To be clear, divorce mediation is not a Collaborative Divorce. Collaborative Divorce is a different method, although the two can produce the same result—an amicable or uncontested divorce. Reviewing the general process for each path may help explain why divorce mediation is more collaborative than litigation.

The ultimate goal of mediation is for the divorcing spouses to walk out of the mediation with a complete, signed divorce settlement agreement—the divorce mediator is a neutral third party that works with each of you to get there.

Generally, the divorce mediation process is:

  1. Before mediation, both parties will send their positions on the outstanding issues to the mediator
  2. The mediator will review each side’s positions in preparation for the mediation
  3. At the mediation, the mediator will pick a person to start with to make the first offer
  4. The mediator will go back and forth between the parties to help relay offers and work on solutions to problems
  5. When the parties have reached a final agreement, the mediator will put it on paper for the parties to sign

From there, the mediator may be able to help the parties draft the appropriate documents to submit to the agreements to the court, but that is something that the mediator can discuss with you.

For more information, read our article What to Expect During the Divorce Mediation Process.

As mentioned above, when people refer to litigation, they usually mean a trial or other evidentiary hearing before the court.

Before the evidentiary hearing, the parties submit a pretrial statement. The pretrial statement is a detailed document that explicitly identifies each party’s position and the legal authority supporting them.

At an evidentiary hearing, the parties appear before the judge assigned to their case and present their positions.

The parties use their testimony, witness testimony, expert witness testimony, and evidence to present their positions to the judge. The testimony and evidence must be presented within the confines of the applicable law. Then the judge decides based on the information presented at the trial.

So, divorce mediation is collaborative in that each party works with the mediator toward a final agreement. While the parties are usually separated, they are still relaying offers and counter-offers, taking concessions where possible to guard against liabilities they may have. The mediator does not decide for them. The parties collaborate to develop an agreement that works for the two of them—given the circumstances. The mediator helps the parties overcome hurdles in negotiations and offers potential resolutions.

At trial, you are trying to work within the confines of the law to persuade the judge that what you think is right and what your soon-to-be ex-spouse thinks is wrong. A trial is when the adversarial nature of the divorce system really shows.

Differences in the Decision-Making Process

Close-up view of gold rings and hammer in the background. The concept

As we mentioned above, in divorce mediation, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse make the final decisions by reaching an agreement. The mediator does not decide for you. At trial, the judge makes the decision.

In divorce mediation, both parties have input and some control over the final agreement.

This control gives you more flexibility in the outcome of the case. Flexibility is especially important in divorce, where parties resolve financial security and family issues.

Maybe what a court would order doesn’t exactly fit your family dynamic. Perhaps you need a very specific parenting time schedule in your parenting plan that the court may not be able to give you. Or maybe, you need more cash now vs. retirement assets and want to negotiate for that.

At trial, the judge makes the decision.

You give up any control in the final outcome and instead rely on the persuasiveness of your evidence and testimony at trial. The judge, a state employee, and someone who has never met you before will have to decide your financial security, when you see your children, and you will make major decisions for your children.

The judge will make the decisions based on the limited time you get for a trial and the evidence and testimony at trial. Judges are often saddled with deciding some of the most critical issues in people’s lives after hearing from them for only a few hours.

So, instead of letting someone that doesn’t know you decide the rest of your life for you, after listening to you for a couple of hours, consider retaining some control and attending divorce mediation.

You know what works for you and your family better than anyone else. Leaving it up to a judge will usually bring the thoughts of: “If I had just said X, maybe they would have agreed with me” or, “If I didn’t get so nervous during my testimony, I would have done a better job.”

Differences in Speed of Resolution and Cost

Speed of Resolution

Divorce mediation is often a faster form of resolution and cheaper.

In our office, if the parties are prepared, mediation is usually completed in one session–although sometimes multiple sessions are necessary. Depending on the party’s schedule, we can usually get people in for a private mediation within a few weeks.

Suppose you attend mediation and reach a complete agreement with the other party. In that case, the agreement can be memorialized in a Consent Decree—the formal document to be submitted to the court.

Usually, your attorney will draft these for you. If the parties are unrepresented, the mediator may be able to prepare them depending on the circumstances—discuss this with the mediator.

In Arizona, if you are passed the 60-day waiting period, the parties can submit the Consent Decree for the judge’s signature. Generally, once the judge signs the final decree, you are done. There may be some transfers of title and retirement accounts to complete, but the divorce itself is done.

If you take your case to trial, you must work on the court’s schedule.

Our courts are very busy, and it can take several months to get enough time for your issues. In Arizona, if you are litigating all the issues (financials and children) but do not have many other witnesses, the court will probably give somewhere between 4 and 6 hours for the parties to split—minus the time the court will take for housekeeping issues.

Depending on how busy your particular judge’s calendar is, it could take 3 to 6 months to find a time slot appropriate for the issues in your case.

If you have experts or witnesses requiring more trial time, you are looking for bigger blocks of time that can push your case further out.

Additionally, if you take your case to trial in Arizona, the judge has up to 60 days to enter their decision. When you walk out of the courtroom after trial, you are not done yet. You have up to 60 days to wait and see what the judge has decided.

Costs of Resolution

Divorce mediation is often much cheaper than litigation.

Mediation costs are usually limited to preparing for mediation, attending mediation, and preparing the final documents. If an attorney is representing you during mediation, you will have those fees too. Sometimes, involving potential experts in mediation is appropriate, so you would have those fees too.

In mediation, you are really talking about “what I am prepared to litigate in court,” “what I think I will be able to prove,” and “what I am willing to accept to avoid going to trial.”

So, for example, hypothetically, let’s say you are unrepresented and your mediator charges $350.00 per hour, and your mediation goes as follows:

  • The mediator reviews both Mediation Memorandums before mediation (1 hour)
  • The mediator conducts mediation between the parties for (4 hours)

5 hours x $350.00 per hour = $1,750.00

As I mentioned, if you have an attorney, an expert, or have the mediator prepare formal documents, those would be additional fees. Take their hourly rate and multiply it times the estimated preparation time and the hourly rate to calculate the estimated additional costs.

By avoiding going to trial, you avoid the costs of preparing for trial, attending trial, the continued litigation leading up to trial, and gathering all of the evidence to prove your claims at trial.

Mediation and concessions made during mediation are also a way to avoid the costs of the judge disagreeing with your position.

In divorce, there is rarely a case where one side has no exposure to any aspect of the case. Concessions in mediation can hedge those “costs” of losing your argument.

So, for example, let’s say an attorney represents you and is taking your case to a four-hour trial set in three months.

This hypothetical assumes your attorney charges $350.00 per hour, the paralegal charges $150.00 per hour, and your case is not high-conflict, but you have yet to reach any agreements and are litigating several issues.

The hypothetical also assumes that you have already incurred and paid the fees related to filing the initial petition or response, preparing for and attending an initial hearing to set the case for trial, and there are no experts in your case.

The hypothetical also assumes that you are not filing motions with the court and having to get the court involved to resolve your disputes. We condensed the example below for simplicity. Your actual invoice from your legal counsel will likely have more details about the fees.

3 Months Before Trial

Job Time Rate Cost

Attorney Communication with Client Regarding Issues Between the Parties; case status; and preparation for upcoming hearing

2.1 hours

$350.00 per hour

$735.00

Attorney Communication with Opposing Counsel Regarding Issues Between the Parties

1.1 hours

$350.00 per hour

$385.00

Attorney Review of Orders Issued by Court

.2 hours

$350.00 per hour

$70.00

Paralegal Work Related to Disclosure and Discovery

1.7 hours

$150.00 per hour

$255.00

Attorney Review of Disclosure and Discovery

.8 hours

$350.00 per hour

$280.00

Total

$1,725.00

2 Months Before Trial

Job Time Rate Cost

Attorney Communication with Client Regarding Issues Between the Parties; case status; and preparation for upcoming hearing

1.6 hours

$350.00 per hour

$560.00

Attorney Communication with Opposing Counsel Regarding Issues Between the Parties

1.1 hours

$350.00 per hour

$385.00

Paralegal Work Related to Disclosure and Discovery for to Meet Final Deadline

1.7 hours

$150.00 per hour

$255.00

Attorney Review of Disclosure and Discovery to Meet Final Deadline

.8 hours

$350.00 per hour

$280.00

Total

$1,480.00

Month of Trial

Job Time Rate Cost

Paralegal Update AFIs for Trial

.5 hours

$150.00 per hour

$75.00

Attorney Communication with Opposing Counsel Regarding Submission of Pretrial Statement and Exhibits

.4 hours

$350.00 per hour

$140.00

Attorney Communication with Client Regarding Procedures for Trial, Timeline, and Deadlines

.6 hours

$350.00 per hour

$210.00

Attorney Work Related to Drafting, Editing, Reviewing with Client, Finalizing, and Submitting Pretrial Statement

6.5 hours

$350.00 per hour

$2,275.00

Attorney Communication with Client Regarding Party Issues Leading up to Trial

.8 hours

$350.00 per hour

$280.00

Attorney Communication with Opposing Counsel Regarding Issues Between the Parties

.5 hours

$350.00 per hour

$175.00

Attorney Work on Exhibits for Trial

1.4 hours

$350.00 per hour

$490.00

Paralegal Work on Exhibits for Trial Re: Preparing for Submission and Preparing Various Trial Binders

2.9 hours

$150.00 per hour

$435.00

Attorney Review of Opposing Counsel Exhibits

.6 hours

$350.00 per hour

$210.00

Attorney Preparing Direct and Cross Exam Questions

4.8 hours

$350.00 per hour

$1,680.00

Attorney Trial Preparation on All Open Issues, Including Review Opposing Counsel Pretrial Statement, Review Case File; Review Pleadings in Case; Review Direct and Cross Examination Questions

3.1 hours

$350.00 per hour

$1,085.00

Attorney Trial Preparation Meeting with Client

1.5 hours

$350.00 per hour

$525.00

Attorney Travel to Hearing, Meet Client before Hearing for Last Minute Questions, Conduct 4 hour Hearing, Discuss Hearing With Client After Completion

5.7

$350.00 per hour

$1,995.00

Total

$9,575.00

As you can see, attorney’s fees add up quickly.

The total for the 3-month hypothetical above is $12,780.00.

Of course, your case is different from the theoretical above. The hourly rates in your attorney’s office may be higher or lower. But there may also be time required not identified in the hypothetical above. The hypothetical above also does not include any fees leading up to the three months before the trial.

Further, the major problem with the hypothetical above is that you spent all that money and endured all that stress, and then what if the judge disagrees with your position and rules against you?

Mediation can be used to help limit those risks, and having an experienced attorney with you during mediation can help you identify the strengths and weaknesses of your case and provide legal advice.

Beyond retaining some control over the case, how long it can take to resolve a matter in the litigation process, and the additional costs related to litigation, you may be concerned with the limited privacy in divorce litigation.

Privacy Differences

Divorce mediation allows for more privacy as the process occurs out of court.

In a divorce trial, the divorcing couple is before the judge in open court. Usually, anyone who wants to sit in on the proceeding is allowed to do so. The testimony is given in open court, in front of the judge, the court staff, and anyone else who may be present in the courtroom.

The “why” behind your request is out for the public to hear.

That “why” can often be personal and sensitive information that most prefer to keep private. The “why” is also detailed in the pretrial statement submitted to the court before trial. That pretrial statement becomes part of the record and is available to access as a public record.

Mediation occurs in a private setting.

Mediation is usually in the mediator’s office or over a virtual platform. The discussions are private. The confidential mediation memorandums given to the mediator are private and not filed with the court.

Privacy is intentional so the parties can discuss sensitive or personal matters to work towards a successful resolution.

Pros and Cons of Divorce Mediation

Arizona Divorce Laws

Mediation offers many advantages, which is why it is promoted by most family law attorneys and the courts as the preferred resolution means. While the control, speed, and reduced cost of mediation are attractive—there are some potential cons to consider.

Pros

  • More control over the outcome of the divorce
  • Can be quicker and less expensive than divorce litigation
  • Can help preserve relationships, particularly if there are children involved
  • Allows for more privacy, as the process takes place out of court

Cons

  • May not be suitable for cases where one party is particularly dominant, or there is a significant power imbalance. Or where there has been domestic violence during the relationship. But, if this is the case, having an experienced divorce attorney representing you during mediation usually cures this issue.
  • If one party is unwilling to work towards a settlement in good faith, the mediation may not be successful. An uncooperative party may maintain unreasonable positions. In that case, you may need assistance from the court in resolving your case.

Pros and Cons of Divorce Litigation

While most agree that divorce mediation is the preferred method of completing the divorce, divorce litigation also has pros and cons.

Litigation is usually more expensive, more prolonged, and more stressful, but it does provide people with a level of closure and a feeling of security.

Pros

  • May be necessary in cases where there is a significant power imbalance or domestic abuse. If someone is in this position and unable to have legal representation in mediation, then assistance from the court may be necessary.
  • Can provide litigants with a sense of closure, as the process is more formal and the judge makes the decision.
  • Can provide an opportunity to be heard. In divorce, people are hurt and sometimes want to be heard.
  • Can provide a feeling of security for unrepresented parties.

Unrepresented parties sometimes prefer to go to trial because they feel the judge will rule however the law says to. We understand why people without attorneys may feel comforted by this, but we heavily caution against this approach.

Yes, judges enter orders within the law’s parameters but are not your advocate. Advocacy is necessary for litigation; an attorney can make a big difference. The judge enters orders based on what is presented during an evidentiary hearing. Divorce lawyers know what the judge is looking for to enter the orders their clients are requesting.

Cons

  • Cases take a longer time to resolve
  • Cases are more stressful and adversarial
  • Cases can be more expensive to resolve

BTL Family Law is here to help

Divorce Mediation or Divorce Litigation: What is Right for You?

Divorce mediation and divorce litigation are two paths to resolve your divorce.

While most divorce and family law professionals will agree that, because of the benefits of divorce mediation, mediation is the preferred course—but divorce litigation has a purpose. Both paths have pros and cons; what is right for you depends on your situation.

At BTL Family Law, we are a full-service family law firm. We offer both representation and divorce mediation services for clients here in Arizona. If you are looking for an experienced Arizona family law attorney to represent you in litigation or at mediation, or if you are looking for a mediator to serve as a neutral third party to help facilitate an agreement, contact us to schedule a consultation.

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