In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we’re taking a look at a common question about divorce mediation:

Is mediation ever appropriate when a couple has experienced domestic violence or abuse?

Some mediators would unequivocally say no. Mediation assumes that parties will keep each other’s best interests in mind and seek solutions that provide maximum benefit to both. Abuse creates a serious power imbalance and implies that an abuser is unwilling or unable to place any importance on the needs and wants of the other party.

This response is not entirely satisfactory, however, because it leaves an abused party with litigation as the only alternative. Is this really better? Read more