Mediation is extremely cost-effective.

If you hire an attorney in anticipation of your divorce, (and your spouse does the same), your separate meetings with separate attorneys, their telephone calls with you and each other, settlement conferences and preparations for court — all necessitate a great deal of two professionals’ time and expense in preparing for a permanent orders hearing. 

Consider how the costs of litigating your divorce can quickly deplete any assets you have accumulated during your marriage.  Also consider how the act of litigating -- an adversarial system by design -- can turn even the most well-intended couples into bitter enemies. 

In contrast, mediation accelerates the conclusion of divorce or parenting disputes by relying on direct communication and the mediator’s skill in keeping the dialog constructive and focused.  Almost always, this results in very substantial cost savings, making divorce mediation a truly affordable alternative.

This mediation process also (generally) results in the creation of a good working relationship between divorcing spouses as they move on in their lives, which is especially important when children are involved. 

Consider this study posted on www.msnbc.com on December 22, 2007:

In an analysis of 199 divorce cases, "Mediation was by far the least expensive option, with a median cost of $6,600, compared to $19,723 for a collaborative divorce, $26,830 for settlements negotiated by rival lawyers, and $77,746 for full-scale litigation."