Mediation requires full and complete sharing of information in order to have an even playing field and the ability to fully participate in negotiation. The brainstorming phase of mediation allows parties to think creatively about how to resolve problems. They had a disagreement whether to divide the mortgage and costs equally, or according to their agreement. The costs incurred because of the divorce should be split in the proportions of the divorce settlement. I could not have come up with a more fair way to divide those costs myself.
Mediation can give even divorcing parties a new and better understanding of each other.
A wife insisted that she take the tax deduction every year for their 2 children, even though she earned of what her husband earned, and would therefore be paying less of the children's expenses. The husband argued that this arrangement was unfair to him. He promised to stay with me for the rest of his life and now he has changed his mind. He is promising to take care of his children in the future, but I fear that he will again change his mind. If he stands by his promise to provide for and care for the children, in 2 or 3 years I would be willing to give him some of the tax deductions.