As full-time family and divorce mediators for many years, we know firsthand the very real benefits of divorce and child custody mediation, and many folks approaching divorce have heard mediation can save costs and time, and preserve control over their after-divorce futures. Most divorcing or separated parents also understand from their own or others' experience that litigation of divorce, child custody or parenting disputes often results in costly and emotionally destructive battles with harmful effects on the parties and especially on their children.

Recent scientific research now confirms these beliefs and demonstrates the long-term benefits of mediation for custody disputes or divorces involving children.

As detailed in his latest book, The Truth About Children and Divorce, nationally recognized divorce researcher, therapist, and family mediator, Robert Emery, Ph.D. has released his striking studies conducted with the highest scientific standards and contrasting the long term experience of couples randomly assigned to mediation rather than litigation of their divorce or custody disputes.

Dr. Emery's studies at the University of Virginia's Center for Children, Families and the Law used completely random assignment to ensure that both divorce mediation and litigation groups included the full spectrum of couples as characterized by their styles of relating with each other. Divorce or custody dispute couples evaluated as "cooperative" "distant" and "angry" were randomly distributed to both groups.

Dr. Emery's studies demonstrate an astonishing and persistent benefit to the families of couples taking control of their own destiny and attempting to work out their own agreements in mediation.

Consider that twelve (12) years later, after an average of only five (5) hours of mediation at the time of the parties' divorce...

In short, the scientific evidence of recent studies makes clear what many divorce professionals have long known:

In Dr. Emery's words: "How you negotiate your divorce settlement [including your choice to use divorce mediation or litigation] is going to start you down a path that you will be walking for many, many years."

Dr. Emery details his research findings at a National Governors' presentation and video exploring divorce's effect on children. Highlights of Dr. Emery's studies - with charts contrasting the experiences of families choosing divorce mediation and those using litigation - are also available in a Microsoft PowerPoint® outline (The Truth About Divorce and Children).