During the Indiana divorce process the parties may be confronted with the decision to enter into mediation.  Mediation is a process by which the parties (attorneys included) meet with a neutral third party who tries to resolve all or some of the issues.  Think of the opening scene in Wedding Crashers with Dwight Yoakam and Rebecca De Mornay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_IIyeLhmF0 .  Unlike that scene, the parties typically do not meet face to face. Regardless of whether the parties are segregated into separate rooms or meet face to face, the point of mediation is to try to resolve the issues.  It is my experience that Indiana family law practitioners believe mediation can effectively resolve many, if not all, of the issues surrounding an Indiana divorce.

In Indiana, some counties require the parties in a divorce to attend mediation (Allen County) before the court will schedule a final hearing; while others require one of the parties to a divorce action to request mediation.  Regardless of how you get to mediation, point is to resolve all or some of the issues.  This is important because, in an Indiana divorce action, once resolved, those issues are off the table and cannot be brought up at the final hearing.  It is also important to remember that in an Indiana divorce mediation is confidential.  The issues and offers discussed at mediation cannot be brought up at a final hearing and the mediator cannot be called to court to testify about the substance or offers made at mediation.

If you need more information about a Indiana divorce or divorce mediation, call my office at 260-428-2208.