When looking for a divorce mediator you have several options to look into.  However, with the savings that can be discovered from the use of a mediator it is well worth the effort to find a good mediator.  Remember, divorce is a very heavy trend in recent years so you may be able to find great references from friends and family for a good mediator.  But if this fails, you have other options as well.

The first is to contact your local divorce courts.  They should be able to provide you with a list of the local divorce mediators that are in the area.  From this list you can start calling to find out more information from each such as rates, how long they generally schedule mediations to last, how many sessions they recommend, and any other questions you can think of.  There is nothing that says you must select the first mediator that you find.  You are free to search until you find someone whom your spouse and you both agree upon. 

Another option that you have for finding a mediator is to look in the phone book or online.  Searching through the yellow pages, you can search for mediation services.  The downside of this method is you are not going off of any recommendations at all, but rather an advertisement.  Advertisement is never the best measure of a good mediator and should be avoided if any way possible. 

If you really are having issues finding a good mediator but have already hired an attorney you can always look to your attorney for a recommendation.  In fact, most lawyers have specific mediators that they prefer to work with and they usually schedule mediations with their preferred person without even being asked.  If you have ideas of using a different mediator, you need to ensure your lawyer is aware of this upfront. 

While selecting a mediator can seem like a daunting task it is important to remember, your mediator is not out to harm you.  The job of a mediator is to help both parties reach a mutual agreement.  This could mean that you lose some arguments but win others.  The mediator is to help assist in negotiations and ensure that things remain peaceful.  If the mediator suspects that things are escalating and tempers are flaring, they can even call an end to the session and reschedule the mediation to be finished later. 

Another source of mediators is to check with the local bar association in your area.  The bar association is usually able to offer some names of good mediators that are well known in the divorce area.  While they are usually unable to give you good specific information, they can pass along a good list to start working with. 

While it may seem as if picking the perfect mediator is an impossible task, it really is not.  With some effort, you can save a lot of money off your divorce by selecting a good mediator whom you and your spouse both feel comfortable working with.  If you are not comfortable with the mediator then you are less likely to participate with the open mind that is needed in order to be truly successful in mediation. 

While everyone dreams of a simple divorce, it is not always possible.  A good mediator is able to help you achieve this so it is well worth the effort to find a mediator that is suitable.  If you feel more comfortable with doing a brief interview with the mediator before making a final decision this is a great idea. 

Remember, you should compare a mediator to an investment. 

With a good mediator, you can save thousands as well as walk away with a much better divorce settlement.  Also realize that by agreeing on terms, you can even file an uncontested divorce which equals out to even greater savings, and even the ability to wrap up your divorce much faster than if you had numerous court dates and motions slowing everything down.  So finding a good mediator is really like an investment that can pay for itself quite quickly.  Nevertheless, with any investment it takes some work to make it work for you.