Mediation is a process by which a family that is undergoing separation can negotiate how children will be cared for by using the services of a neutral third party that helps them negotiate any issues they are having. The mediator does not make decisions or judge the decisions that the family makes; rather they are there to help people reach a decision that is agreeable to all parties without having to go to court and have these decisions made by a judge.
Mediation process family law has significant benefits for a family in that it gives them greater control about decisions made in relation to children, is a less stressful means of dealing with sensitive matters, improves communication between all parties in the dispute and provides a quicker and less confrontational way of resolving issues without having to go to family court.