If courts elsewhere are any indication, some cases in Ohio family courts may be counterproductive for helping families move on. The process pits family members against each other and the effects can be quite detrimental if both parties are demanding a decision on their terms. If child custody is involved it can make the process more taxing.

Because of these reasons, divorce court can be rough. It is usually expensive and it can also be exhausting. And the winner-take-all mindset of divorce court often leaves both parties dissatisfied with the judge's decision and, because both have been fighting so hard, can leave the relationship permanently scarred.

And what about the child? Being caught between two parents battling it out in court can affect them emotionally and make them feel confused.

The effects of a heated divorce battle could eliminate the chances of an amicable discussion happening ever again.

These factors can be why some couples are turning to divorce mediation. It is less expensive and still allows for the determination of spousal support, child custody and property division. With a mediator involved, it can be much easier for a couple to come to agreeable terms. It is often the case that divorce mediation is less stressful and easier to follow through on because it is not court ordered; both spouses worked together to come to the decisions that were made.

In Ohio, a form of mediation can be known as uncontested divorce, which involves spouses who can reach many of the decisions on their own. A judge still has to sign off on a final agreement, but only one spouse has to be present when that happens.

Source: Star Tribune, "An alternative to colosseum of family court," Stephen K. Erickson, Jan. 15, 2012