Yes! Mediation can be extremely efficient at any stage of the proceedings, just as any good faith settlement attempt is always a worthy goal when compared to the emotional and financial costs of the separation or divorce process dragging along. If formal preparation is completed, and costly court dates are on the horizon, the parties’ often see the wisdom of settlement but simply can’t achieve it due to the adversarial nature of attorney-driven negotiations. When facing an expensive trial, with all issues crystallized, and each having had the benefit of legal counsel throughout the process, this is an ideal time to try mediation. The parties might be wise to direct his or her counsel to request mediation with the opposite party, with or without attorneys depending on the comfort of the parties relating to their understanding of the issues.
