Yes, in some cases people are able to work out their differences without appearing before a judge. This generally works out best for couples who are splitting amicably, or at least are able to put their differences aside for a while to take care of business. This is also an excellent option for couples who do not have a lot of money and are hoping to avoid a long, drawn-out, expensive divorce.
If you try to work out the details of your divorce with mediation, it will be just you, your spouse, and a mediator. The mediator is an impartial third party that will help facilitate a discussion and keep you both on track toward a resolution. You will work through all of the important details and both of you will have to come to an agreement on key issues like property division and a parenting plan. Mediation is great because not only does it decrease the amount of time and money you're investing into this divorce, it also makes sure that you're both walking away from the whole thing relatively happy and satisfied. When you aren't able to work things out on your own, the judge is in charge of deciding your fate and it isn't always what either spouse wants.
Mediation isn't always right for every couple, but it's definitely an excellent way for some couples to handle their divorce. Settlement conferences led by attorneys can provide another venue and process for some sort of out-of-court reconciliation. Our firm regularly holds settlement conferences for clients, often with successful outcomes. Feel free to discuss your options regarding either mediation or a settlement conference with our attorneys to decide what might be best for you.