Family mediation raises issues usually involving, child visitation (known as time sharing), child support, alimony and determinations of custody, as well as distribution of assets.

A growing trend is to have a mediator resolve some or all of the issue pre suit before parties engage an attorney, so as to reduce cost and defensive posturing which occurs frequently when the attorneys cannot agree on the issues.  In addition, when the parties seek to complete the divorce without an attorney, known as acting pro se, the engagement of a  mediator is often appropriate to help  the parties resolve the the issues which are necessary and to help them prepare an agreement which binds them.   Pre Suit mediation is voluntary as is pro se mediation.

But mediation is always required by the Court when a case is proceeding and it appears that the parties cannot reach an agreement on some or all of the issues.  In order to find an alternative to costly and time consuming litigation, the courts require the parties to seek a mediator.

This section of our website, discusses some but not all of the issues which should be considered in a family case.