According to Jennifer Baker of the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology, 50% of first marriages, 67% of second marriages and 74% of third marriages end in divorce. As bad as it is for first marriages, it seems lessons are not learned. Childlessness is cited as a common cause, but often it is problems with children, in-laws, finances, and the commonly used escape clause incompatibility that are reasons for divorce. A good many divorces might be prevented if couples considered mediation prior to applying for divorce.

Mediation is not marriage counseling or “treatment” of some sort. Mediation is allowing a third party neutral to disputes to hear both sides and enable them to better understand each other. Typically, it is the lack of communication and the avoidance of the difficult conversation that is the root cause of divorce. If you are thinking of divorce, you may have other options before contacting a divorce attorney.