Questions:

• What is divorce mediation, and how is it different from arbitration?
• Why is mediation better than going to a lawyer -- or is it?
• What is the difference between court-ordered mediation and private mediation?
• How do mediating spouses protect their legal rights?
• Does the mediator meet with both spouses together or separately?
• How much does mediation cost?
• How long does mediation take?
• How can a divorcing couple find a good mediator?

Answer:

How do mediating spouses protect their legal rights?

Because divorce involves legal questions, every divorcing spouse should know and understand his or her legal rights before agreeing to a settlement. One way for a mediating spouse to do this is to work with a consulting lawyer who knows and understands mediation. For more information, see Lawyers and Divorce Mediation.

Doing some independent legal research is another option. It's best to do this as early in the process as possible, then follow up with a legal review before signing the settlement agreement that comes out of the mediation.