spousal support mount pleasant sc

Mediation: An Affordable Alternative To Litigation

It is expensive and time-consuming to litigate divorce and post-divorce disputes involving child custody, visitation, property division, spousal support, relocation, and modification. The team at Ballinger Law Firm is always on the lookout for ways to resolve our clients' cases in the most cost-effective manner. To assist in that goal, Beverly K. Ballinger is a Certified Family Court Mediator.

Mediation is an affordable alternative to litigation that allows the parties to exert more control over the outcome and settle their disagreements while avoiding the cost, time, and stress associated with a protracted courtroom battle. It is also a valuable way to minimize the emotional burden of divorce and preserve fragile family relationships.

The Mediation Process

In mediation, both parties and their attorneys work with a neutral mediator to negotiate an amicable settlement. The mediator assists the parties in coming to a resolution, usually by carrying offers of settlement back and forth between the parties. The mediator does not make any final decision in the matter and does not give advice to either party.

Mediation often ends in settlement of at least some of the contested issues, saving the parties time and money because fewer issues will have to be litigated in court later on. If some contested issues remain after mediation, the parties are free to continue settlement negotiations through their attorneys and/or prepare to resolve the case at trial.

We settle most cases that go to mediation. However, in the unusual circumstance where mediation is either not successful or would not be beneficial, Beverly Ballinger has over 32 years of litigation experience to zealously and effectively advocate for her client should the case go to trial.

Negotiation And Resolution In A Private, Even-handed Setting

Many family courts require mediation before any case proceeds to trial. Such mediation helps the already overcrowded court dockets and has multiple other important advantages, including:

Giving parties control over the result, rather than having a judge issue a ruling;
Allowing the parties to resolve their issues in a private setting;
Providing a less formal proceeding than a trial, resulting in significantly reduced costs;
Allowing for a less damaged relationship between parents who will most likely continue to interact with each other throughout the lives of their children.