Yakima County in Washington state now requires that married couples go through at least one round of divorce mediation before their divorce can be considered legal. This is part of a new effort by the county to see to it that all civil and domestic cases consult a third party as part of their resolution.

What does this mean for couples nationwide? A look at the county's statistics can give a rough clue.

Partners are More Likely to Have their Say with Divorce Mediation

While it has been stated by women in the county that mediation services help them to be heard, the effect is not limited by gender. The practice can be beneficial to men who feel as though their words carry little weight with their partners.

Why is this? One factor is likely the sheer seriousness of the divorce situation. But another factor is that the "message relay" via a third party can soften the blow of a harsh message. Ironically enough, softening the blow can help the words make a deeper impression.

Mediation Services Save Time and Money

Divorce is all too often a messy, expensive, draining ordeal that can leave both partners worse for the wear. If Yakima County's last six months are any indication, mediation can save both time and money.

While the number of domestic cases has risen 30% since the mediation law went into place, the court is reporting a positive difference in how quickly these cases are resolved. Court administrators also say that this should cut down on the number of delayed cases.

Partners who want a divorce outside of Yakima County may want to consider divorce mediation as an alternative to court. Mediation services typically cost much less than divorce proceedings, and are typically quicker and less confrontational.