One example is custody plans. Parents will fight over 50/50 time but the reality is that you don’t have that much time to give. So, in directed mediation, they tell you what’s realistic right up front and point you down the road.

All parties should be invested in getting to the infield, including the mediator. Directed mediation is about moving things along, not racking up hourly billings.

Review counsel is recommended but really, they should only be looking for the “Oh my gods”. You don’t want them redrafting the agreement but you do want them flagging anything major that could be a problem in the future. Ideally, both review counsel communicates and negotiate with each other well, so they too want to get it done.

How to sum up directed mediation? Get ‘er done!