How does mediation compare to and fit in with marital counseling, arbitration and litigation?
You don’t want to participate in a process that will create more conflict than you already have. Thus you start with discussions between yourselves. When that doesn’t work, you meet with a marriage counselor. While engaged in counseling, you might need a trial or temporary separation which one of our mediators can help you achieve. If it appears that a divorce is inevitable, you and your spouse can stay in control of the split-up by making the mediation session the place where you and your spouse negotiate with the help of your mediator and if you desire, advice from your lawyers. Arbitration is rarely used in divorce cases, but it would be a way to have a third-party make decisions for you without the formality, time and expense of litigation. Arbitration is a way to get a non-binding advisory opinion to help resolve a single, difficult issue. Litigation is what you’re stuck with when counseling and mediation don’t work for you. Unless domestic violence is involved, it should usually
