Divorce mediation can be highly productive for couples and families seeking to resolve their disputes with minimal professional help. 
With a mediator facilitating the process, clients work through the financial problems and the parenting questions at the pace and in the manner with which they feel most comfortable. They craft their own solutions, albeit with guidance in whatever amount is needed.
When a divorce has been successfully concluded through mediation, couples often find that the benefits of the process have become greater than they anticipated. Beyond the fact of reaching settlement – which is itself a large achievement – clients discover that they have found a way to end the fighting, reach deeper resolution of their conflicts, gain acceptance of their current circumstances, and chart a course for the future.
Divorce mediation may be right for you if the answers to one or more of these questions is “yes”:
- Are you and your spouse committed to staying out of court?
- Do you believe you and your spouse will be able to engage in productive discussions if you have some professional guidance?
- Are you willing to listen to your spouse’s point of view?
- Are you interested in seeking solutions that work for both of you?
- Do you feel reasonably confident in your ability to negotiate on your own behalf if you also have an attorney to give you advice?
Clients engaged in divorce mediation should always consult with attorneys separately. When I am functioning as a mediator, I can set the context and tone for the discussions, but I am prohibited from giving legal advice to either party. If you are committed to mediation as the process that feels right for you, be sure to hire an attorney who will support you through mediation by providing information, feedback and guidance, but not by steering you into an adversarial posture. For my mediation clients, I am happy to provide referrals to supportive attorneys.
