Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process that gives parents the opportunity to remain in charge of decision making for their family in a productive, solution-focused setting. The mediator is a neutral professional who facilitates discussion between parents but has no decision making authority. This process allows parents to remain in control of the outcome while settling disputes without a lengthy and costly court process. Mediation is often used to help resolve issues around parenting time, school attendance, co-parent communication, and blended family issues.