A couple has decided to end their marriage. They meet with a neutral third party, who acts as an intermediary between them to as
sist in resolving the issues involved in the divorce, including property settlement, payment of alimony and child support, custody of children, and visitation rights. This third party does not make a decision or an award. What kind of alternative dispute resolution does the scenario describe?
Mediation consists of an alternative dispute resolution method where a third party (neutral), known as a mediator, gets together with the parties in disagreement to help them come to an understanding that gives an end to the disagreement. Generally, mediators are experts (usually attorneys) and the state rules define who can fulfill this role.
