About Mediation
Divorce mediation is a way to resolve your divorce and/or custody dispute while letting you keep full control of the outcome. The only people making decisions are those involved in the dispute, unlike arbitration or litigation where a judge or an arbitrator makes the final decision.
Divorce mediation and custody mediation typically consists of several joint meetings between spouses (or partners if you are not married). During those meetings, you and your spouse discuss the issues that need to be resolved in your case. The mediator is there to facilitate the discussion, assist with communication, provide information and suggestions, and use specialized training to assist the two of you to resolve your differences and write up an agreement which is fair to both of you, and, if you have children, in their best interests as well.
Benefits of Mediation Include:
Improved relationships between children and both parents.
Significant cost savings (avoid the adversarial costs of drawing pleadings, making motions, appearing in court, etc.)
Significant time savings (avoid the time and stress of litigation).
More control over your decisions.
Privacy as you work out an agreement in an open, cooperative atmosphere.
Assistance in keeping emotions separate from practical decisions.
Ability to resolve future issues in your agreement, thereby avoiding later disagreement.
An informed process, so that each person fully understands the consequences of their decisions.