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The mediator is trained to resolve disputes and equally serve you both. The mediator is not a lawyer, nor can the mediator apply the law to your individual situations. By nature giving legal advice to one side breaks the neutrality of the mediation as it cannot be guaranteed that equally powerfull legal advice can be given to the other party to keep it even.

No. Either party can terminate Mediation at any time. It is completely voluntary. When Mediation is terminated neither party has surrendered any legal rights by starting Mediation. Either party is free to drop the dispute, or escalate to litigation at any time without compromising any of their rights.

Mediation relies on full disclosure from both sides. It is not a matter of IF a party will divulge information but HOW. It can be done voluntarily during Mediation or by the order of the court. Not sharing information is NOT an option either in Mediation or in court. The party who attempts to hide assets or other information during Mediation will be treated the same by the courts as anyone else who falsifies information provided to the court. Not good.

No. The mediator will work to ensure that BOTH sides have the complete and same information to make fair decisions. For example, if one spouse has an expensive collection that they claim on the net worth worksheets as having a low value the mediator may order a professional and independent appraisal be completed of the collection to determine their fair value. This way both will know the fair value of the collection when negotiating the division of assets.

Typically, yes. Mediated settlements are shown to last longer than court ordered settlements and require fewer modifications in court. Mediated agreements are three times less likely to be taken back to court. Because Mediated agreements represent what is acceptable to both sides the agreement tends to meet the needs of the parties and no revision is needed in court. Also Mediated agreements are usually morecomprehensive and creative and are tailored to the needs of the disputants. This is reflected in a surveyed satisfaction rate that is higher by 30% over court ordered settlements. Also, litigants pay on average 133% more than their Mediation counterparts.