Some marriages just don’t work out, and in many cases, because of reasons beyond our control. But with mediation, you are in control. Our number one goal in mind is to help you and the other party reach an amicable separation.
One thing you might be surprised to learn about Louisiana is that you’re not guaranteed a trial or specific outcome when it comes to divorce proceedings. And then there’s the cost, which ranges anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000 — for each person — in the state of Louisiana. That equals to a year’s income for many in the state.
Before you proceed with a divorce, first ask yourself: “Should court be my first option?” If the answer is yes, consider some statistics before taking a potentially costly and emotionally draining decision.
Louisiana has one of the highest divorce rates in the nation. In October 2017, an article appeared on 247wallst.com breaking down highest rates of divorce in the U.S. among states. Using Census data, the article listed Louisiana as having the fourth-highest rate of divorce in the country by state at 20.8 divorces per 1,000 married couples. Only Arkansas, Idaho, and Nevada ranked higher, respectively, than the Pelican State.
According to the website, the data also showed that Louisiana has the seventh lowest marriage in the nation at 11.9 marriages per 1,000 people.
Additionally, according to the data, the average for a wedding in Louisiana is $22,701, which is the 10th lowest in the state. Think about it: skipping divorce mediation could potentially cost you as much as your wedding, or more!
It’s a lot of money to shell out for a median Louisiana household income of $45,146, according to data collected by a U.S. Census American Community Survey in 2016.
With all of this in mind, consider why using court to settle major differences shouldn’t be your first option.
Litigation is time consuming and its not unusual for a divorce proceeding to take several months before a resolution is reached. This is when parties tend to experience emotional distress and this is what we aim to avoid.
We already mentioned the cost. But did you know that it could increase by thousands depending on how many other people, hearings and issues are involved? Many times, clients aren’t in a position to pay for this.
There is a psychological advantage when a party voluntarily agrees to certain stipulations. When parties are empowered by their own decisions, there’s a strong likelihood that they’ll comply with self-imposed obligations than if they were handed down by a judge.
When the parties come to an agreement on their own, there is less resentment between them and everyone can optimistically move forward.
Remember, YOU are in control. Unlike in court where you are forced to live with the decision of a judge or hearing officer, in our office it’s your voice that makes the decision.
Because it’s conducted in private, any documents produced or conversations held in mediation can’t be shared or be used against you in court.