University of Missouri School of Law Scholarship Repository
Abstract
In the past two decades, mediation in general has gained increasing acceptance in the legal community.\u27 [T]he search for alternative methods of resolving disputes has burgeoned to \u27a movement\u27. 2 In the divorce context, particularly, mediation has been seen by some as a more suitable process than the adversary system. 3 Proponents of mediation assert that the adversary system involves debilitating expense, frustrating delay, 4 and fails to address the emotional needs of the parties.5 Adversarial tactics often aggravate rather than resolve spousal differences, 6 though an amicable settlement might be in the best interests of both parties, especially when there are children by the marriag