"Avoid the expense and stress of divorce court. Ending a marriage is always difficult, but you don't have to be financially or emotionally overwhelmed. Through mediation or a collaborative divorce, you can avoid the huge legal bills and debilitating conflict with your ex. The book guides you through all the steps of negotiating a divorce settlement, using mediation or collaborative law. Encouraging, straightforward, and inspiring, Divorce Without Court explains mediation and collaborative divorce and shows you to choose the right method for your family ; maximize opportunities for settlement ; get an agreement in writing ; find mediators, attorneys, and advisers, and protect your children first, last, and always."--Page 4 of cover.

Includes index.

Introduction : Divorce without court : your best option --The role of mediation and collaborative law in the divorce process -- What happens in mediation -- What happens in a collaborative divorce -- Deciding to mediate or collaborate -- Proposing mediation or collaboration to your spouse -- Finding a mediator -- Finding a collaborative attorney -- Using advisers and doing legal research -- Getting started on information gathering -- Preparing for and making the most of the first session -- Evaluating your progress in mediation or collaborative divorce -- Communicating in mediation or collaborative divorce -- Negotiating in mediation or collaborative divorce -- Court-sponsored mediation -- Encountering difficulties in mediation and collaboration -- Writing up the divorce agreement -- Divorce for same-sex couples -- Women and men in mediation and collaborative divorce -- Unmarried couples in mediation and collaboration -- Mediation and collaboration after divorce -- Appendixes : A. How to use the downloadable forms on the Nolo website -- B. State court websites.