Many family law matters, such as divorce and custody issues, are resolved outside court, often through mediation. In mediation, a neutral third party, called a mediator, helps the parties come to an agreement about how to resolve the issues that brought them to court. Such issues include child custody, visitation, divorce, property settlement and division of debts and assets.

A Mediator is usually highly skilled and highly trained to become a mediator.   The Mediator does not take the side of either party, or represent either party. The mediator helps the parties work through the issues in their particular case.  Often mediation is ordered by the court.  Other times, the parties want to try to resolve their problems before going to court.  Mediation gives both parties the ability to come to a mutually acceptable agreement.

Once an agreement is reached, then the mediator usually reduces the agreement in writing.  Mediation can be held in person, over the phone, via skype or other video conferencing means.