Frequently Asked Questions

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In mediation, you and your spouse remain in control of the decisions that affect your family, finances, property, and future. The mediator facilitates productive discussions and helps you work toward agreements both parties can accept.

In litigation, each spouse typically retains an attorney, court procedures and deadlines govern the process, and unresolved issues may ultimately be decided by a judge.

Mediation is generally more private, cooperative, flexible, and cost-effective than traditional litigation. It can also reduce the emotional stress associated with an adversarial divorce and allow couples to create solutions tailored to their particular family.

No. You do not need to have everything worked out before coming to mediation—that is the purpose of the process. You simply need a willingness to participate in good faith and discuss the issues that need to be resolved.

Depending on your circumstances, mediation can address issues such as:

• Division of marital assets and debts
• The marital residence
• Parenting arrangements and parenting schedules
• Child support
• Spousal maintenance
• Retirement accounts and pensions
• Bank and investment accounts
• Insurance and other financial matters
• Other issues unique to your family