The traditional way to get divorced is through litigation. Litigating a divorce, which means arguing the issues before a judge, often turns into a court battle that costs both sides a lot of time and money. On top of that, litigation is known to be a stressor: In addition to the heavy costs and time consumption, the parties are engaged in a highly adversarial process.
Most divorcing couples, therefore, try to reach settlements outside of court, a system known as alternative dispute resolution. Mediation is the most popular type of alternative dispute resolution, where many couples resolve their differences on issues related to the divorce.
Not only is mediation an effective way to reach a divorce settlement, but it can also reduce the emotional stress that often accompanies the divorce process. If you are considering attending divorce mediation, make sure to have an Illinois divorce mediation attorney represent you.