What is divorce and family mediation?
How does mediation work?
What is a typical mediation session like?
How long does divorce mediation take?
What if my spouse and I have difficulty communicating?
Do I need an attorney?
Will mediation work for us?
What about the children?
How do children react to divorce?
Can mediation help to get us back together?
What are some of the benefits of mediation?
How much does divorce mediation cost?
What if we can’t work it out?
What are the advantages of mediation as opposed to going to Court?
If you would like to learn more about goes on in a mediation session, please read One Couple's Story, a compilation of several couples' stories, issues, and resolutions.
There are several good books that might help you and your spouse during this time in you lives. Please look over the Resources available.
What is divorce and family mediation?
A mediated divorce differs from a traditional divorce in that you and your spouse, with the help of a mediator, define the issues relating to separation and divorce and reach agreements that are in the best interest of your family. In a conventional divorce, attorneys negotiate a settlement or take the case to court.  Back to top.
How does mediation work?
You and your spouse meet privately with the mediator, who helps you decide issues regarding your children, support, property division and other concerns. You make all of the decisions in a manner that is acceptable to you. Mediation provides a setting in which you can determine outcomes that are tailored to your individual situation. Back to top.
What is a typical mediation session like?
You meet in the privacy of the mediator’s office. The mediator helps you address and discuss issues that might be difficult for you and your spouse to discuss unassisted. Sessions usually last about two hours. You can meet weekly or less often if you prefer. Back to top.
How long does divorce mediation take?
It is difficult to predict. The complexity of issues and how quickly consensus is reached are two factors that affect how long mediation will take. Most couples resolve matters in four to six sessions, though some may take longer. Sessions are scheduled at the pace and convenience of the participants. Back to top.
What if my spouse and I have difficulty communicating?
Mediation facilitates communication at a time when trust may be at an all-time low. Sitting around a table in the mediator’s office is a safe place for you to discuss issues relating to separation and divorce. Experience shows that most couples can summon enough good will to address and decide important concerns, especially if they have children. Back to top.
Do I need an attorney?
Although mediation allows you and your spouse to make decisions yourselves, an attorney can help you understand the law and make informed decisions. Mediation is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Attorneys can serve as consultants to participants in mediation, but do not generally attend the mediation. You stay in control of the process and minimize attorneys’ fees while protecting your interests. Back to top.
Will mediation work for us?
There are few models of divorce with civility in our society. Friends and relatives may tell you horror stories about their own divorces. Movies and television offer a bleak picture as well. Yet, most couples who choose mediation work through the issues confronting them and resolve those issues to their mutual satisfaction. Back to top.
What about the children?
If you have children, no one knows more about them, their personalities and needs, than you and your spouse. Important decisions must be made for them. Where will they live? How will they be supported? How will decisions be made for them? How will they spend time with each parent? These are decisions that should be made by you and your spouse rather than by a court. Back to top.
How do children react to divorce?
Divorce is difficult for everyone in the family, especially children. Children respond best to a divorce if they see their parents cooperating to make decisions in their best interest. Back to top.
Can mediation help to get us back together?
You should see a marriage counselor if you feel there is hope of saving your marriage. Divorce mediation is for couples who have already decided to divorce. Back to top.
What are some of the benefits of mediation?
Separating and divorcing couples who resolve their differences through mediation move on with their lives more quickly than couples who become adversarial. They also preserve a better working relationship for the sake of their children. Mediated divorces are generally quicker, less expensive and less emotional. Back to top.
How much does divorce mediation cost?
Mediator fees are $150.00 per hour per couple and are divided between participants. Fees are payable at the end of each mediation session. Back to top.
What if we can’t work it out?
Even if you cannot resolve all issues in controversy, partial agreements narrow areas of conflict and limit the time and expense of going to court. Frequently, the mediator can suggest options that will break deadlock and open the way to a negotiated settlement. Back to top.
What are the advantages of mediation as opposed to going to Court?
Court is open to the public, whereas mediation is confidential and private. In court, judges make all the decisions. In mediation, you and your spouse make decisions for yourselves. Going to court can be extremely expensive; mediation is much more cost-effective. Court creates an adversarial process while mediation fosters a problem-solving atmosphere. Court outcomes are unpredictable. In mediation you and your spouse determine the outcome. Court can take months or years. In mediation you proceed at your own pace. Back to top.
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