3 Reasons You Need Legal Advice During Divorce Mediation

Mediation is a great tool to help resolve a divorce without lengthy litigation. It allows couples to work with a neutral third party to reach agreements on property division, maintenance, parenting plans, and child support. However, mediators cannot provide legal advice, which is why consulting with an attorney during the process is so important.

Here are 3 reasons we think legal advice is important during mediation:

• Protect Your Interests & Set Realistic Expectations: An attorney ensures you understand your legal rights and responsibilities, giving you confidence that the agreements reached are fair and align with Missouri law. An attorney can help you approach the mediation process with a clear understanding of what is achievable, reducing the likelihood of disputes. Mediation is often more productive if you enter the process with an idea of the likely outcome at court.

• Review Agreements for Accuracy: Legal professionals can identify potential oversights in agreements, preventing issues that could arise in the future.  Ideally, the mediator would assist in reaching an agreement, and the attorney would prepare the final settlement documents as this is often more efficient. Clear, legally enforceable agreements drafted with attorney input are less likely to lead to conflicts or the need for court intervention later.

• Handle Complex Financial Issues: Matters like the division of retirement accounts, tax implications, and asset valuations often require legal analysis and careful consideration to avoid costly mistakes.

Even in an amicable mediation process, legal guidance ensures that your agreements are thorough, enforceable, and tailored to your specific needs. If you’re considering mediation as part of your divorce, give us a call to learn more.