Who can use collaborative mediation?

Collaborative mediation is widely viewed as one of the best methods of ending a marriage. During the collaborative mediation process:

• You and your spouse will get to decide how to handle the issues that have come up in the dissolution of your marriage, including how property will be divided, who is responsible for what debts, and how care and support of the children will be divided up. 
• An independent third party mediator or collaborative divorce coach will help you and your spouse to openly communicate, prioritize and listen to your needs and the needs of your spouse, and work together. The mediator won't tell you what to do- mediation is usually voluntary- but will help you and guide you in communicating and coming to an agreement

Collaborative mediation works best when you and your spouse are committed to actually making it work, and when neither is being vindictive, abusive, or dishonest and hiding assets. If you can't agree to agree on something or if one of you wants to punish the other, collaborative mediation isn't likely to work well for you. 

Your best bet, when considering collaborative mediation or any other method of divorce, is to talk to a lawyer who can assess your situation and advise you on the best way to proceed.