What if mediation does not work?
It is rare that mediation will not result in an agreement that both parties feel comfortable. When this does happen it is usually because of unwillingness from one or both people and that be as a result of false expectations that may have been generated from a friend or family member or maybe even an attorney. If a couple is not able to find common ground in mediation then there are still alternatives to going to court that can usually bring agreement. One of these alternatives is to use an “advisory panel” made up of 3 retired judges or seasoned attorneys that the mediators choose. They read a summary of what the impasse is about and what each person wants. Each panel member acts independently of each other and they do not know who else is on the panel. This is a sort of “mock trial” that gives the couple a sense of how a court would rule on a particular issue. This process works very well but should only be used as a last alternative. If there is continued impasse the couple can alwa
