What is mediation and when is it successful?

Mediation is a collaborative process in which the parties work to resolve the issues of their divorce together. The mediator is a neutral third-party professional who facilitates a conversation between the parties on each issue of their divorce. The parties can attend a mediation alone or there are circumstances where an attorney can be present for them as well. The purpose of mediation is to get the parties to have a calm conversation and work through the issues together rather than apart. This can be successful if the parties are amicable and believe they can have an effective conversation regarding their divorce. Mediation can also be helpful if there are not many issues to discuss in a particular divorce. The parties may just need someone to facilitate the conversation rather than attempt it on their own. Mediation can occur prior or during court proceedings.