Generally, mediation is an alternative to a court hearing that people use to resolve their disputes. is a particular type of mediation, focusing on helping couples resolve divorce-related issues like custody, property division and spousal support.
In most ways, divorce mediation works like any other type of mediation. It is a confidential process, meaning that what people say during a mediation session cannot come back to haunt them in court.
For the most part, mediation is also a voluntary process. Some Northern Virginia judges might order a couple to give mediation a good faith effort, but courts cannot force anyone to enter a mediated agreement.
During mediation, a qualified person, often a family law attorney or retired judge, will work with each spouse, sometimes with their attorneys, to resolve the couple’s outstanding legal issues.
The mediator is not supposed to make decisions like a judge would, but they may point out certain information or even question a person’s thought process behind their position.