With increasing court congestion and rising litigation costs, mediation and other “Alternative Dispute Resolution” (ADR) procedures are becoming commonplace. Domestic relations matters are particularly suitable for out-of-court resolution through the services of a neutral mediatior. In some cases courts are using mediators in an effort to expedite the settlement of family law cases.

Utilizing a mediator allows divorcing couples a way to:
• Maintain their dignity and mutual respect.
• Cut costs dramatically.
• Protect their children from the pain of parental conflicts.
• Allow both parents active roles in their children’s lives.
• Divide property and provide for support in a manner that reflects
their own, not a judge’s, sense of fairness.
• Maintain their privacy.

For most couples, choosing the route to mediation opens the doors to communication that in some cases has been broken down during the marriage. The positive approach to this would be to get couples to relate to one another during the divorce, which is more crucial then the divorce itself.

It enables couples to openly address future issues with respect to the raising of children as single parents.