As the lagging economy continues to take its toll, an increasing number of divorcing couples are looking to mediation as a way to save time and energy by avoiding a long and drawn-out legal dispute. While mediation often still requires each party to employ an attorney, it can help expedite the divorce process and leave both parties with more assets after property division.

According to data from the Colorado Judicial Branch, about 72 percent of divorcing Colorado couples filed separation agreements in 2011, an increase from 60 percent in 2007. In many of these cases, these separation agreements led to final settlements. The total number of divorces rose between 2007 and 2010, decreasing again in 2011.

One divorce financial analyst based in Colorado explained that many couples choose to divorce in order to deal with a poor financial situation, making mediation a particularly effective option for them. Mediation helps couples come to terms with their finances and work with each other to come to an agreement on how their assets will be divided. While their final agreement still must be signed by a judge, this is generally a quick and easy step if mediation has taken place.

"The trends in divorce are that more individuals are seeking to craft their own settlement agreements through mediation and collaborative divorce," said the president of the International Association of Divorce Financial Planners. Even if a couple has little to divide in the way of assets, she explained that mediation can still help couples avoid getting stuck on emotional and sentimental issues.

Source: The Huffington Post, "Mediation in divorce on the rise," David Migoya, Jan. 23, 2012