Approaches to Dispute Resolution
Mediation
Your Cost: Low
Your Control: High
Collaboration
Your Cost: Medium
Your Control: Medium
Litigation
Your Cost: High
Your Control: Low
Mediation
A mediator is an independent third party who works with the couple to reach a divorce settlement. The mediator is neutral and does not give advice (legal or non-legal) to either party. Each party retains their own legal counsel. Mediation tends to be more cost effective than collaborative and litigated divorces.
Collaborative
Collaborative Divorce is a team approach to divorce. A divorcing family obtains professional help from experts in the legal, financial, and mental-health fields, and if needed, medical and child experts are also involved. Each team member assists the family in his/her area of expertise, and then integrates his/her recommendations with those of the other team members and the collaborative law attorneys to help the family reach a divorce settlement.