Mediation for the Middle Aged: Making Separation Choices Together
September 8, 2016 by West Coast ADR
By the time a marriage has deteriorated to the point where divorce seems like the only option, it may seem to the soon-to-be-separated couple that relief is near at hand. The truth is divorce is not an easy process for anyone, no matter the circumstances of the relationship. For those over 50 years of age, matters are even more complicated. It may be, though, that mediation can help to streamline and simplify things.
Typically, middle-aged couples have been married for many years. Though children are not likely to be a concern, possessions that have accumulated will be. Also, over time, assets and income become intertwined, and extrication from the resulting web of finance can be time-consuming and stressful. Money can also be a factor when it comes to sorting out finances; the cost of filing a subpoena for records in British Columbia or having accountants troll through statements can be exorbitant, and someone has to pay those bills.
A divorce is an emotional event with some experts likening it to experiencing a death in the family. Separation means not only the end of a relationship, but it may also mean the loss of income, lifestyle and possessions. While mediation may not make it any less upsetting, men and women who mediate instead of going to court may expose themselves to less hostility and will hopefully make decisions in a better frame of mind than they may have otherwise.
For those couples who have not become entirely estranged, going through the divorce process with a family law firm may be an option. Mediation allows for the possibility of a calm and reasonable exit from a relationship that no longer works. Using an experienced mediator knowledgeable about British Columbia law may help make the step from an old life to a new one easier to take.
Source: Star News Online, “Divorce after 50“, Melisa Riley, Sept. 1, 2016
By the time a marriage has deteriorated to the point where divorce seems like the only option, it may seem to the soon-to-be-separated couple that relief is near at hand. The truth is divorce is not an easy process for anyone, no matter the circumstances of the relationship. For those over 50 years of age, matters are even more complicated. It may be, though, that mediation can help to streamline and simplify things.
Typically, middle-aged couples have been married for many years. Though children are not likely to be a concern, possessions that have accumulated will be. Also, over time, assets and income become intertwined, and extrication from the resulting web of finance can be time-consuming and stressful. Money can also be a factor when it comes to sorting out finances; the cost of filing a subpoena for records in British Columbia or having accountants troll through statements can be exorbitant, and someone has to pay those bills.
A divorce is an emotional event with some experts likening it to experiencing a death in the family. Separation means not only the end of a relationship, but it may also mean the loss of income, lifestyle and possessions. While mediation may not make it any less upsetting, men and women who mediate instead of going to court may expose themselves to less hostility and will hopefully make decisions in a better frame of mind than they may have otherwise.
For those couples who have not become entirely estranged, going through the divorce process with a family law firm may be an option. Mediation allows for the possibility of a calm and reasonable exit from a relationship that no longer works. Using an experienced mediator knowledgeable about British Columbia law may help make the step from an old life to a new one easier to take.
Source: Star News Online, “Divorce after 50“, Melisa Riley, Sept. 1, 2016