Resolution
Mediation
Divorce without Destruction
Resolution
Mediation
Divorce without Destruction
Divorce mediation is a voluntary, out-of-court process where a neutral divorce mediator helps couples reach legally binding agreements about finances, property, parenting, and debt—without litigation.
In divorce mediation, you and your spouse make the decisions about your future rather than your attorneys or the judge deciding for you. Rather than the state setting the standards for agreement, you do. As divorce mediators, we help you determine how to divide marital property, manage debts, allocate financial resources, and—if you have children—create a parenting plan that supports your family moving forward.
Couples often begin mediation aware of some issues but unaware of others that can later cause serious problems. Our role is to identify all issues that must be addressed in a divorce, explain your options, and outline the legal, financial, and practical pros and cons of each choice. This ensures informed decisions and avoids surprises down the road.
Once agreements are reached, we prepare a Settlement Agreement and file it with the court in Indiana. The agreement is enforceable by the court, yet most couples complete the process without ever going to court.
Whether you communicate well or face significant conflict, divorce mediation provides a structured, supportive process to help you reach agreements that reflect your highest priorities and move everyone forward.
Divorce mediation typically begins with a free information meeting to determine whether mediation is the right approach for your situation.
Most couples attend this meeting together, though some prefer to meet separately. We offer both options. During the meeting, we learn about your family, finances, and goals, and explain how the divorce mediation process works in Indiana—including timelines, costs, and next steps.
You’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, meet the mediators, and decide whether mediation feels like the right fit. There is no obligation, and the meeting is provided at no charge.
The cost of divorce mediation varies, but mediation is almost always significantly less expensive than traditional divorce litigation.
The total cost depends on factors such as:
Unlike litigation—where each spouse pays an attorney to advocate for their individual “win”—mediation focuses on collaboration and problem-solving. This reduces conflict, shortens timelines, and lowers costs. Most couples complete the entire divorce mediation process for less than the cost of attorney retainers alone.
Divorce mediation is not appropriate when one or both spouses are unwilling to negotiate honestly or safely.
If the goal is to punish a spouse, seek revenge, or gain leverage through intimidation or coercion, mediation is not the right process. If one spouse attempts to manipulate or take advantage of the other, we stop the mediation.
That said, mediation does work for many high-conflict couples. We do not expect the process to be easy—but we do require a willingness to engage in good-faith discussions. If each person wants to decide what to do with the money or how to care for their children, instead of a court, even couples experiencing significant conflict reach durable, workable agreements.
No. You do not need to have decisions made before beginning divorce mediation—that is the purpose of mediation.
Some couples arrive already aligned on major decisions. In those cases, we explain how those choices will function legally, financially, and practically. If the outcomes make sense to the couple, we draft the agreement.
Other couples:
Divorce mediation provides a structured decision-making process that meets you where you are—whether you agree on everything or nothing.
No. You are not required to have a divorce attorney in order to divorce through mediation.
Many couples complete the entire divorce process in mediation without hiring attorneys. Others choose to consult an attorney at specific points or for the entire process. It’s up to you.
As divorce mediators, we:
While mediators provide legal information and education, we cannot give legal advice. Some clients choose to consult an attorney to review the agreement, advise on a specific issue, or provide ongoing support. We encourage this whenever clients desire advise and welcome attorneys who support the mediation process.
Parents protect children in divorce when they work together to reduce conflict, work cooperatively, and keep children out of adult decision-making.
Parents support their children’s well-being when they:
Although courts are charged with protecting the “best interests of the children,” adversarial divorce often places children in the middle of prolonged conflict. Research shows that high-conflict divorce is associated with increased emotional, academic, and health challenges for children—but these outcomes are not inevitable.
At Resolution Mediation, we help parents create child-centered parenting plans that truly reflect their children’s needs.
We assist parents in developing parenting plans that are:
When parents work together—even imperfectly—they provide the strongest protection for their children.
Have a question?
People going through divorce often feel like they are stepping off a cliff. They are keenly aware they don’t know what they don’t know. We offer answers in a process that protects people, preserves assets, and provides a way forward.
Call 317-793-0825 or contact us here.
