In Maine, mediation is mandatory if the action is contested, and/or children are involved. In addition, the court has discretion to order mediation at any time.

When one spouse denies that the marriage has failed, the court upon its own may continue the case and require both spouses to receive counseling by a qualified professional counselor selected either by agreement of the parties or by the court. The counselor shall give a written report of the counseling to the court and to both parties. The failure or refusal of the party who denies irreconcilable marital differences to submit to counseling without good reason is prima facie evidence that the marital differences are irreconcilable. [Maine Revised Statutes; Title 19A, 251, 902].

At the court’s discretions, parents may be required to attend one of a number of divorce parenting classes.