According to Forbes, 80% of divorce cases are unilateral, meaning that one spouse wants to divorce, while the other does not. When this is the case, it is cause for added tension, and divorce has plenty of tension as it is. One way to minimize stress is to choose a mediated divorce over one filed through the court. You and your spouse can work with your own attorneys and settle matters through a private mediation, scheduled when and where it is most convenient. When your divorce is brought to court, a judge may decide that you and your spouse should first attempt a compromise via a court-ordered mediation. The court may choose a mediator for the couple or leave the decision up to the couple. Court-ordered mediation works similarly to private mediation in that you both will be represented by your own attorneys, meet together with a mediator, and negotiate the terms of your divorce as amicably as possible. If an agreement cannot be made with mediation, your divorce will return to the courtroom where the judge will make the final decision.