How It Works by James P. Reape No-fault divorce represents a major change in how family law processes divorce in America. More than twenty years ago, California led the way by becoming the first state to institute the no-fault divorce law. Many attorneys and mental health professionals believe that the mandatory mediation law for custody and visitation disputes is the next most significant change in family law in California. The reason for this is simple.
Mediation offers several advantages for families.
None are more important than people usually being better off when they can determine for themselves what forms their lives will take. The era of someone else taking care of families is behind us. Also, people working out their own solutions helps taxpayers by not having to expend unnecessary resources to resolve family conflicts. Because of the large number of applicants wanting jobs as family mediators, hiring is selective. All of the mediators have advanced degrees in one of the mental health disciplines and most hold licenses in clinical social work or marriage, family and child counseling.