MEDIATION is a process where both parties agree on a qualified mediator to help them reach a final settlement on all their issues. The mediator will help steer and guide them toward a settlement. This may take a number of meetings depending upon how far apart the parties are to agreement on all matters. The mediator will not make the parties agree with each other. It is up to the parties to agree with each other and the mediator will help. Once an agreement is reached, the mediator can draft an outline of the agreement for the parties to take to each of their lawyers to review. This advice from a lawyer is called “independent legal advice”. The contents of the outline prepared by the mediator can then be formalized into a legal Separation Agreement by the lawyers. Often the parties will each have a lawyer before starting mediation so that they can each obtain legal advice throughout the mediation process.