For many individuals, divorce can seem like an extremely intimidating and overwhelming process. Divorce is often portrayed as highly adversarial and emotionally draining, and many partners worry that their children, family and friends will be stuck in the middle. Divorce mediation provides an alternative to such adversarial processes and may be a good option for you and your partner.

Divorce mediation is a process where spouses can work with a trained neutral mediator in a low-stress setting to negotiate all aspects of their divorce and try to reach a divorce agreement that is acceptable to both parties. Unlike a divorce proceeding in court, divorce mediation occurs in a private setting. And unlike a judge, a divorce mediator does not make rulings or judgments on how a divorce should be handled, but works with the parties to try to facilitate a resolution that reflects the interests of both parties involved.

Benefits of divorce mediation include:

Cost — Divorce mediation is typically far less expensive than a court proceeding because it takes less time and is less likely to result in protracted disputes.

Privacy — Divorce mediation is confidential. Unlike a court proceeding, which may be accessible to the public or involve a written transcript of proceedings, divorce mediation is private.

Lower stress — Because mediation encourages both parties to work together to reach a mutually acceptable divorce agreement, the process tends to be less stressful and contentious. Mediators will encourage cooperation and work with the parties to creatively brainstorm solutions rather than enabling firm stances on positions.

Control — Divorce mediation allows the parties to maintain more control over the outcome of their divorce. In court, a divorce resolution may ultimately be determined by a judge and result in dissatisfaction for both parties.

Quicker — For parties interested in resolving a divorce as efficiently as possible, mediation will very likely take less time than litigation.

If you or your spouse are considering the possibility of a divorce but are worried about the possibility of ending up in lengthy adversarial court proceedings, you may want to consult with a Connecticut divorce attorney who specializes in divorce mediation. A divorce mediator can provide an overview of the process and answer any questions you may have.

At the Divorce Mediation Center of Fairfield County, LLC, our family law attorneys understand how intimidating and challenging divorce can seem and can help you pursue the alternative path of divorce mediation. If you have questions about divorce or divorce mediation, please call our Westport office at or contact us online anytime.