As much as it would be ideal for a court
to be able
to make such an order immediately, from the moment the couple irrevocably separates, the reality is that the process
leading to a formal
divorce is lengthy and often costly, and that the parties» needs and means
remain pressing and immediate, yet may change over time.
Research has shown that mediated settlements
to child custody disputes
leads to lower co-parenting conflict in parents who mediated, rather than litigated custody, and encourages both parents
to remain in their children's lives after
divorce.