When parents cannot agree on child custody arrangements on their own, one option to consider before heading to court is child custody mediation. A professional mediator will help facilitate discussions between the couple regarding custody and even visitation issues in an attempt to resolve them outside of the court room. Professional mediators are neutral individuals who have been specifically trained to help people resolve disputes. Mediation does not often involve attorneys or expert witnesses unlike a court trial. One benefit that many couples discover from participating in mediation is that the communication process strengthens dialogue between the couple, something that is helpful for future issues regarding their child, and will provide value for many years to come. In the event that child custody mediation proceedings are not successful, couples typically need to schedule a court hearing so that a judge can make a ruling regarding the particular custody issues at hand.