Can We Use Divorce Mediation If We Have A History Of Domestic Abuse?

A: Divorce mediation is absolutely not recommended for families that have a history of domestic abuse, domestic violence, verbal abuse, or emotional abuse. In Washington State, mediators will pre-screen for signs of domestic abuse and exempt domestic violence cases from divorce mediation. For mediation to work properly, the two parties must stand on equal ground and not be motivated by fear, anxiety, or intimidation. The bottom line is that domestic violence is a crime and should never be mediated. It should be handled in court. While individual counseling can be helpful for both parties, it can be counterproductive and even harmful to the victim to attempt to mediate a divorce with a history of abuse.