Gala 2008...

This past year, the Tennessee legislature passed a law requiring that all parties to a divorce attend at least one session with a trained mediator to determine if the process is appropriate to resolve the issues arising in divorce. In the past, courts often referred parties to mediation to resolve child custody issues. This law, however, requires all divorcing parties to experiment with the process.

Mediation can be an especially effective way to deal with the emotions, needs, and concerns each party has in divorce. It can provide a safe and low cost process.

Most states now require some form of divorce-related mediation. Tennessee's new law shows that divorcing parties, lawyers, and state court judges have had a good experience with mediation in most cases.

Having said that, parties should be sure to choose a qualified, well-trained mediator with a style of practice that fits the parties' needs.