Divorce Mediation: 

A Better Route for You? 

 Divorce mediation is a process in which both spouses voluntarily come together to work with an impartial divorce mediator who helps the spouses find mutual solutions to the issues of divorce, such as property and debt division, spousal support, and parenting and support of minor children

 When you choose to handle your divorce through mediation, you are able to work together with your spouse and avoid a painful, expensive, and generally wasteful court battle. In addition to being a much more affordable option, mediation is oftentimes much faster and less emotionally taxing for all the involved parties. The divorce mediator helps the spouses resolve their issues by presenting a range of possible solutions and, where needed, identifying conflicts and the potentially hidden concerns behind those conflicts. Through a better understanding of the issues, and with the divorce mediator's help, the spouses can discuss their problems in a more constructive, less hostile manner, and thereby work toward mutually satisfying agreements. Who Can Use Divorce Mediation? Although some couples come to mediation with few disagreements, divorce mediation is not limited to couples who agree on most issues. The key is for each spouse to participate voluntarily and to work cooperatively on reaching solutions. What are the Benefits of Divorce Mediation?
• The parties control their own decisions

• Because the decisions are their own, the parties are far more likely to comply with their final agreements. Post-divorce conflict, with potential litigation and additional costs, is less likely to occur

• Divorce mediation is generally less expensive than litigation

• The parties can discuss emotional issues and have those issues considered in making their decisions

• The parties can use their improved communication skills and enhanced understanding of each other's concerns to reduce stress in post-divorce dealings


• Children benefit from reduced tension and hostility between parents both during and after divorce. What Happens After We Reach Agreement on the Issues? The divorce mediator drafts an agreement detailing the parties' decisions. The agreement may be reviewed by an attorney for each party. The agreement is then submitted to the court for approval and becomes the basis of the final divorce judgment. Although the divorce mediator does not act as an attorney for either spouse in the court process, the divorce mediator can prepare court documents for the spouses' signatures. Where Does the Mediation Take Place? The office is in Stratford, near the Mill River Country Club and the intersection of Main and East Main Streets. For directions to the Stratford office please click here

• If You're Divorcing, Consider Mediation by Ellie Stoddard
• The Two Roads to Divorce by Lenard Marlow
• The Truth About Children and Divorce - Dealing with the Emotions So You and your Children Can Thrive by Robert E. Emery, Ph.D. Ellie Stoddard is Here to Help

Ellie J. Stoddard has been helping Connecticut clients handle divorce through mediation since 1999. Attorney and mediator Ellie J. Stoddard attended Brown University before going on to earn her law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law. She went into private practice in 1999 and has since built an impressive career as a successful divorce mediator. She also offers collaborative divorce law as an additional service for her clients. Ms. Stoddard is a member of the Collaborative Divorce Attorneys of Fairfield County and the Connecticut State Bar Association and formerly was President of the Connecticut Council for Non-Adversarial Divorce.