How to Prepare for Military Divorce Mediation in Nevada
Starting your first divorce mediation session can feel stressful—especially in a military divorce where schedules, deployments, benefits, and parenting plans bring extra layers of complexity. The good news is that mediation works best when you take a few simple steps ahead of time. A little preparation helps you stay organized, stay calm, and stay focused on reaching fair, workable solutions for your military family.
Here are 7 practical steps to help you get ready for your first military divorce mediation session in Nevada, including guidance for service members and spouses stationed at Nellis Air Force Base.
Gather Your Key Military and Financial Documents
In addition to typical financial documents—like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and loan information—you’ll also want to pull together military-specific records. This includes your LES statements, BAH/BAS information, retirement account balances, and any documentation showing special duty pay or deployment-related income.
If you or your spouse are stationed at Nellis AFB, include housing documents, TRICARE details, and anything tied to on-base benefits. Bringing complete and accurate information keeps the session efficient and prevents misunderstandings.
Know Your Must-Haves and Areas Where You Can Bend
Military divorce often involves high-impact decisions, such as how to divide a military pension, how to build a parenting schedule around duty assignments, or how to handle relocation plans during or after service.
Before mediation, identify the issues you absolutely cannot compromise on—whether that’s maintaining a stable school routine for your kids, securing your share of retirement benefits, or creating a parenting schedule that accounts for TDYs or deployments.
Then consider the areas where you can show flexibility. Knowing this ahead of time helps you negotiate with clarity instead of emotion.
Understand How Nevada Handles Military Divorce Mediation
Mediation in Nevada is not a courtroom battle. There’s no judge, no witness stand, and no ruling handed down. Instead, the mediator guides both spouses toward solutions that fit your specific situation. This process is especially helpful for military families at Nellis AFB because it allows you to work around unique military challenges—like irregular schedules or upcoming PCS orders—without the pressure of a formal hearing. Understanding this ahead of time helps you stay calm and trust the process.
Create a Simple List of Mediation Topics
Before your session, think about the issues that matter most in your military divorce. These often include parenting time, child support, spousal support, debt division, property division, TRICARE coverage, and division of military retirement benefits under the USFSPA.
Most military families also need to discuss how future duty assignments or deployments may affect parenting plans. Writing these topics down helps you stay organized and ensures no important issues are overlooked.
Practice Emotional Steadiness Before You Arrive
Military families often face extra stress—long separations, unpredictable schedules, and the strain of constant readiness. These pressures can spill into mediation.
Spend a little time before your session centering yourself. Practice slow breathing, remind yourself of your long-term goals, and identify any emotional triggers you may face. When you show up calm and steady, you create space for better communication and better results.
Talk With Your Attorney About Military-Specific Issues
A short conversation with your attorney before mediation can save hours of confusion. Discuss questions about your military pension, survivor benefits, BAH/BAS income, SCRA protections, and how Nevada law fits with federal military rules.
If you or your spouse are active duty at Nellis AFB, bring up scheduling concerns, deployment timelines, and plans for PCS moves. Going in informed helps you walk into mediation confident and prepared.
Arrive With an Open Mind and a Problem-Solving Attitude
Military divorce requires teamwork, even when emotions run high. Schedules change, orders shift, and both sides must be ready to adapt. Keep an open mind as you work toward solutions that support your future and your children’s stability. Flexibility makes the process smoother, faster, and far less stressful for everyone involved.
Move Forward with Clarity and Confidence
Preparing for your first military divorce mediation session doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
When you gather your documents, understand the process, and enter the room with clear goals, you give yourself the best chance at productive conversations and fair agreements
Contact Smith Legal Group at 702-410-5001 to schedule a free consultation at our Henderson, NV office whether you’re stationed at Nellis Air Force Base or are a military spouse navigating the Nevada system.
Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this blog post should be construed as legal advice. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in this blog post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue.