The Family Law Mediation Process in Oklahoma

If you are working towards finalizing a divorce in Oklahoma, you do have the option of getting this matter behind you with the help of mediation. Specifically, what this means is that you and your spouse would work together to agree upon a mediator to help you negotiate your settlement, and there are lists available from many reputable sources, including the Oklahoma Bar Association.

You would work with your attorney to prepare for your mediation much as you would for a trial, although the mediation itself is geared towards a calm and civil tone so that the particulars of your situation can be handled appropriately. Not to mention, you will not be allowed to have your attorney with you during the mediation, as only the parties to the action will be allowed to work inside the room when the process starts.

During the mediation, the mediator will control the process so that each of you has an opportunity to speak and to present your positions. The mediator will work to keep the tone civil, and assuming this happens, you and your spouse will simply negotiate your way through the estate and resolve issues including property division, support, custody, visitation and any other matters that need to be resolved.

If a resolution is reached, it will be reduced to writing and presented to the family law court for approval. If or when approval is granted, the divorce is also granted and the matter is resolved with the mediation agreement document governing the terms going forward.

Potential Benefits of Family Law Mediation in Oklahoma

Most innovations are the result of a need or set of needs, and given the time, stress, antagonism and money that was often involved with a divorce, there was clearly a need for a new idea to come to the forefront in terms of family law in Oklahoma. Although mediation in Oklahoma is relatively new, there is already a widely-accepted set of benefits that those who have gone through the mediation process have enjoyed.

Below are a few examples of these benefits:

Speed – As stated, a divorce can take months or even years, but most mediation hearings in Oklahoma can be scheduled in a matter of weeks.

Approach – Divorce can be one of the nastiest, most emotionally-charged legal situations in existence, but the nature of mediation is to keep everything as civil as possible, and when the parties themselves work out a settlement, the chance for a civil relationship between the two only increases.

Fees – Divorce, especially a case that goes through a trial, can be extremely expensive when one includes legal fees, court costs, witness fees and any other costs often associated with a trial. Mediation is much less expensive in general.