Most Colorado judicial districts require mediation before a contested case can get scheduled for a final hearing (and sometimes a temporary hearing). A neutral mediator helps you identify issues and agreements to settle. The majority of cases resolve here rather than at trial.

Mediation is a structured negotiation led by a trained, neutral third party who doesn't decide anything but helps both sides find common ground. In most Colorado districts, contested cases are ordered to mediation before the court will hold a permanent orders hearing; judges strongly prefer that families craft their own outcomes. Sessions can be in person or virtual, and each spouse can have an attorney present (the mediator can't act as anyone's lawyer).

This is where most divorces actually resolve. It's usually far cheaper and faster than trial, it's confidential, and it gives you control. Colorado mediators commonly charge by the hour (often split between the parties), and some counties offer lower-cost mediation through the state's Office of Dispute Resolution.

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Colorado

Colorado, USA