Same PP as above: I think more times than we think one person wants to stay in the marriage and the other person has long moved on.

I went to a low cost one in Fairfax. I had a good experience. My outcome was not good as I did not want out of the marriage but my husband did.

He served me, did not communicate for a long time and then we spent years in court.

Don’t do what I did! But the mediate was overall helpful. I think I was just a “little out of it “ because loved him and our kids. I was also very grouchy in middle age, and said and did a lot that I regret over two years.

Huh! FWIW !

I have not but we have similar programs where I live. I highly recommend trying to keep costs down. I know a couple with 5 real estate properties and two children who managed to divorce for around 5k each using mediation and lawyers on the side. I also know couples who spent over a million. Guess who had the happier results? This is an area where you do NOT get what you pay for

Have you used the Conflict resolution center of Montgomery County for free mediation service? Idea is to eventually get the separation agreement reviewed by a paid attorney. Want to keep the costs low, and dont see how mediators can differ by much.