Whats the difference between divorce mediation and arbitration?
A mediator has no power to impose a decision on the husband and wife. He or she is there solely to help them find a resolution they both find acceptable. If they cannot agree, that’s as far as the mediator can go. An arbitrator, on the other hand, has the power to impose a settlement. The arbitrator listens to the arguments in favor of the husband and the arguments in favor of the wife, then renders a ruling. Typically, the husband and wife agree in writing to submit to arbitration before the process begins. They agree in advance to be bound by the arbitrator’s decision, whatever it is, which means they must abide by the decision and cannot appeal it in court.
