3 Major Keys to Colorado Divorce Mediation
	Summary. Be informed and prepared so that you can understand and control your case. Focus on long-term results. Get the predictable business part of divorce behind you so that you can move on with your life.

1. Be Informed and Prepared
You must be informed about:

• the business of divorce and the legal process;
• legal costs;
• expected legal results; and
• joint parenting and other family relationship matters.

Divorce and family law matters are legal and business processes. Even though you should resolve your issues through mediation, you are still involved with a legal process which has to do with the business of separating assets and debts. Often the unbalance of negotiating power comes from a lack of knowledge about the legal process and expected results.

Divorce and family law matters are also about family relationships, particularly joint parenting processes. Educate yourself about how both parents will remain a part of their children's lives. Children should continue to have two parents, not just one. Colorado courts require parenting classes for minor children However, there are also excellent books on the subject of joint parenting after divorce.

Use your advisors to help you become informed. Ask questions about the process, reasonable objectives, and likely outcomes.

Be prepared:

• create a spreadsheet (chart or summary) of assets and debts;
• propose a parenting time schedule;
• propose a division of assets and debts;
• understand how two households can survive with the same income; and
• research complex financial issues, such as retirement assets and bankruptcy.

Don't rely on your attorney or mediator to do these tasks for you. You have more information about your life than any of your advisors.

2. Understand and Control Your Case
In most cases, settlements are reached by the parties outside the presence of their attorneys and mediators. In other words, once the parties understand the process and the likely outcomes, they are able to come to a settlement of their differences.

Don't rely on your advisors to control your case. Their interests are different from your best interests. Their interests are financial and legal. Your focus should be on your better future and the better future of your children and other family members.

3. Separate Your Personal Emotions from the Business of Divorce
The business of divorce is in nature of a separation of assets and debts, the legal process, taxes, etc. This is a fairly predictable process with predictable results. So - get it done and move on.

However, the emotional and painful side of divorce is much more difficult. It is different for everyone. Perhaps one of the best ways to deal with the emotional part of divorce is to first get the business part of divorce behind you. In Colorado, the court recognize the importance of getting the business of divorce done, because Colorado is a no-fault state. In other words, the courts will not spend any resources or allow the parties to even address the emotional side of divorce because it only further damages the relationships.

In order to reduce the conflict and the time and expense of your divorce, you must somehow separate the business of divorce from your emotional issues.

Do this by getting the business of the divorce behind you. Get it done through a process of informed decision-making so that you and your family can move on.