You are in conflict with your former partner. You see a family lawyer who tells you s/he can be of assistance. The lawyer offers to send a letter of introduction to your former partner or their lawyer and in so doing, sets the tone for the process of settlement. Before you know it, the parties are at an impasse and the matter is brought to court for resolution. You are in litigation.
As Gary Direnfeld writes, this is the predictable path when hiring a lawyer whose primary training is in litigation. This is what they are trained to do. With litigation, while you may seem satisfied with the outcome, it runs the risk of coming at great expense financially and socially.
Mediation will require you to take ownership in the process and work under the guidance of professionals as you determine the outcome with your former partner. In mediation the professionals will endeavor to keep matters safe and civil. They will seek to help you determine an agreement you can both live with while appreciating that more reasonable the process, the faster it can proceed.
If you or someone you know could benefit from assistance in decision making during a divorce, contact Falmouth Mediation at 508-566-4159 for a free, no-obligation, private, confidential consultation. We will be happy to discuss the key details of your situation, address any concerns, and help you decide if divorce mediation would be beneficial.