Mediation:

Mediation is a process for resolving disputes between parties.

Mediation is an intergral part of family law cases.

In divorces, parties may go to mediation before or after filing a petition for dissolution of marriage.

Mediation facilitates communication between the parties.  This process helps parties to better understand each other’s perspectives, develop alternative resolutions, explore consequences, and reach resultions that are more mutually beneficial. 

The mediator will not make decisions about right and wrong.  Nor will the mediator determine how to resolve the conflict.

In mediation, the final decision remains in the hands of those who will live with the outcome, the parties themselves.  Mediation is based on a willingness to compromise.  Compromise allows the parties the opportunity to choose what is most important so that everyone can achieve a satisfactory result.

Mediation is a confidential process.  The mediator will not reveal anything discussed in mediation without permission from all parties.  More importantly, a party will rarely be permitted to disclose to the court what happened in mediation.