What is mediation?

Mediation is a private, voluntary and confidential process for resolving family disputes without going to court. A neutral mediator helps the participants find solutions that address their individual needs in a respectful, problem-saving atmosphere. Mediation helps families to successfully restructure into two healthy and thriving households.

How does divorce mediation work?

Couples meet together with the mediator in a private, confidential setting and work to identify and examine the issues that are important to each of them and to their families. The mediator assists the couple to find workable solutions that meet the needs and interests of all family members. If there are children, the parents discuss such issues as parenting time, schedules, how important decisions regarding the children will be made, and the financial support of the children. In mediation, both spouses commit to complete, detailed disclosure of all financial documents relating to settlement. Together, spouses examine their income and future budgets, as well as their marital assets and debts. They decide how to allocate their assets and liabilities, in a way that each of them considers fair and responsive to their individual goals. When all of these important decisions have been made, the mediator typically will formalize these decisions in a memorandum of understanding, or a settlement agreement. This agreement can be used as the basis for a future divorce.