Online Divorce Mediation and Arbitration

Different types of online portals can help facilitate an online divorce mediation process. You can open these portals on a desktop PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. All you need is a reliable Internet connection. 

The chosen mediation portal will be where you communicate with your mediator. But, of course, you can also communicate through emails or texts. 

After you set up your profile on the mediation portal, you can upload pertinent documents, or any requested written statements. You can designate those statements as confidential, and they will only be read by your mediator. 

The Mediation Session

After collecting all the documentation, the mediator will set up your online session. That session can occur on familiar sites such as Zoom or GoToMeeting. This is how an online mediation and arbitration divorce session can play out: 

Private Room 

You will have access to a private virtual mediation meeting room. In that room, you and your mediator will discuss issues in private. Any time someone enters the private room, there will be a notification. 

Room Shuttling 

A mediator can adopt a room shuttling approach for your mediation session. That will allow them to go back and forth between you and your spouse to discuss the divorce settlement details. 

Sometimes there is a need to break up a joint session into a private session. Then, the mediator must take in all sides and convey the information back to the parties.  

The Agreement

When the mediator helps you and your spouse achieve an agreement, they will move on to drafting the official divorce settlement filing. The mediator will then present the agreement to the court, where a judge will finalize the agreement. When that happens, you will sign a final copy of the agreement, and the divorce is complete. 

Pros and Cons of Online Divorce Mediation

Going the online mediation route can help speed up the divorce process. However, as with putting an attorney on retainer, there are pros and cons to consider for divorce mediation. 

Pros

Here are the pros to consider for online divorce mediation:

• Ease of Location 

Because your mediation will be online, you can go anywhere there is an online connection. That reduces the stress of traffic and parking hassles. For example, you can go online at your home, a friend’s home, your office, or some other private spot. 

• Greater Access to Mediators

Just as you can go anywhere with an internet connection for your mediation, so can the actual mediator. That means you will have greater access to a broader selection of mediators. They can be based out of any state or city. Just be sure that your choice of mediator understands your state’s divorce laws. 

• Flexible Scheduling 

When there is no traffic time to consider for the meeting, it will be easier to set up a time for your mediation that everyone can agree to. That includes a mediation session before or after work hours. 

• Personal Distance 

At times, a divorce can become contentious. Tempers can flare up if you’re in the room with your soon-to-be ex. Being online creates a buffer zone that can help keep the proceedings on an even keel. 

• Easy Access to Witnesses

You might want to utilize a witness, such as an accountant or lawyer, to support your claims. Those witnesses will have easy access to join the session without the constraints of traveling to a location. 

• Fast Document Sharing 

The mediator can instantly share documents during the online session for both sides to review. Everyone can literally be on the same page. 

Cons

Here are the cons for online divorce mediation:

• Wi-Fi and Tech Issues

Working through an online meeting portal can be intimidating for anyone unfamiliar with the technology. There might also be Wi-Fi signal issues that can impact the online session. It might help to have a practice session with the mediator to resolve the connectivity concerns. 

• Distractions 

Anyone who works from home is well aware of the potential for distractions. Those distractions can come from wandering pets or kids that need attention.