Portland, OR family law attorney Kaite Goss talks about how mediation works in divorce cases. Mediation or some other form of alternative dispute resolution is required in most cases in Oregon, particularly in cases involving children. Mediation can take several formats. Most counties in Oregon provide mediation services to assist parents in resolving issues related to custody and parenting time. One benefit of court-offered mediation is that it is often provided free of charge or at a nominal fee for the parties.

An alternative option is working with a private mediator. This approach offers the advantage of allowing the parties to work with attorneys alongside the mediator, which is not an option in court-offered mediation services. However, the drawback is that the parties are responsible for paying both the attorney’s and the mediator’s fees on a private basis.

While mediation can take different forms, the primary goal is for the parties to work toward solutions and compromises to address the issues they face, thereby avoiding the need to go to court. Mediation is a voluntary process, and no party can be forced into a specific agreement. The ultimate goal is to reach a resolution outside of court, granting the parties control over their settlement, while avoiding the costs and risks associated with litigation, where the outcome is uncertain.