PAULA JAMES a family law attorney with 15 years of experience, is a full-time mediator, national speaker, and trainer in family law mediation. She lives in Austin, Texas.

• CHOOSING TO MEDIATE. How Mediation Differs from Litigation. Is Mediation the Best Choice for You? Choosing a Mediator. The Role of the Mediator. Conferring with a Family Law Attorney. THE PROCESS OF MEDIATION. Before the First Session. The First Session (and What Happens Next). How Agreements Are Reached. The Emotional Hurdles--What Works. What Doesn't Work. PROTECTING YOUR CHILDREN. Your Children's Needs. Planning Your Children's Future Care. FINANCIAL FAIRNESS. Analyzing Your Assets and Debts. Dividing It All Up. What About Alimony?

"This is a well organized and straightforward book, written ineveryday language, with easily accessible anecdotes the reader caneither identify with or gain perspective from them." (MediationNews) "An informative guide for everyone who is involved in the divorcemediation process." (Diane Neumann, past-president, Academy ofFamily Mediators and author of Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guideto Helping Couples Find a Competent Mediator) "Based on her extensive experience as a divorce mediator, PaulaJames explains why couples seeking a divorce should mediate and howto do so. Clear, interesting, informative. A must read for troubledmarriages." (Robert Coulson, former CEO of the American ArbitrationAssociation) "The real strength of this book is its detailed discussions of theissues a divorcing couple must address, regardless of how theydissolve their marriage. . . . RecommAnded for consumer lawcollections." ?The Divorce Mediation Handbook should be offered to divorcingfamilies by court clerks, clergy, lawyers, therapists, andmediators. Paula James has demystified the mediation process andthis book helps divorcing spouses make better informed choicesabout how to take control of their lives, protect their legalrights, and reduce the financial transaction costs in Anding amarriage.? (Forrest S. Mosten, certified family law specialist andmediator, Los Angeles, California and author of The Complete Guideto Mediation) "[James] provides the reader a solid basis for understanding thepersonal costs of divorce, for both the spouses and the children.The book is well written and will well meet the needs of literateclients who are going through the divorce process, whether or notthey decide to use mediation."

PAULA JAMES a family law attorney with 15 years of experience, is a full-time mediator, national speaker, and trainer in family law mediation. She lives in Austin, Texas.

• CHOOSING TO MEDIATE. How Mediation Differs from Litigation. Is Mediation the Best Choice for You? Choosing a Mediator. The Role of the Mediator. Conferring with a Family Law Attorney. THE PROCESS OF MEDIATION. Before the First Session. The First Session (and What Happens Next). How Agreements Are Reached. The Emotional Hurdles--What Works. What Doesn't Work. PROTECTING YOUR CHILDREN. Your Children's Needs. Planning Your Children's Future Care. FINANCIAL FAIRNESS. Analyzing Your Assets and Debts. Dividing It All Up. What About Alimony?

"This is a well organized and straightforward book, written ineveryday language, with easily accessible anecdotes the reader caneither identify with or gain perspective from them." (MediationNews) "An informative guide for everyone who is involved in the divorcemediation process." (Diane Neumann, past-president, Academy ofFamily Mediators and author of Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guideto Helping Couples Find a Competent Mediator) "Based on her extensive experience as a divorce mediator, PaulaJames explains why couples seeking a divorce should mediate and howto do so. Clear, interesting, informative. A must read for troubledmarriages." (Robert Coulson, former CEO of the American ArbitrationAssociation) "The real strength of this book is its detailed discussions of theissues a divorcing couple must address, regardless of how theydissolve their marriage. . . . RecommAnded for consumer lawcollections." ?The Divorce Mediation Handbook should be offered to divorcingfamilies by court clerks, clergy, lawyers, therapists, andmediators. Paula James has demystified the mediation process andthis book helps divorcing spouses make better informed choicesabout how to take control of their lives, protect their legalrights, and reduce the financial transaction costs in Anding amarriage.? (Forrest S. Mosten, certified family law specialist andmediator, Los Angeles, California and author of The Complete Guideto Mediation) "[James] provides the reader a solid basis for understanding thepersonal costs of divorce, for both the spouses and the children.The book is well written and will well meet the needs of literateclients who are going through the divorce process, whether or notthey decide to use mediation."

PAULA JAMES a family law attorney with 15 years of experience, is a full-time mediator, national speaker, and trainer in family law mediation. She lives in Austin, Texas.

• CHOOSING TO MEDIATE. How Mediation Differs from Litigation. Is Mediation the Best Choice for You? Choosing a Mediator. The Role of the Mediator. Conferring with a Family Law Attorney. THE PROCESS OF MEDIATION. Before the First Session. The First Session (and What Happens Next). How Agreements Are Reached. The Emotional Hurdles--What Works. What Doesn't Work. PROTECTING YOUR CHILDREN. Your Children's Needs. Planning Your Children's Future Care. FINANCIAL FAIRNESS. Analyzing Your Assets and Debts. Dividing It All Up. What About Alimony?

"This is a well organized and straightforward book, written ineveryday language, with easily accessible anecdotes the reader caneither identify with or gain perspective from them." (MediationNews) "An informative guide for everyone who is involved in the divorcemediation process." (Diane Neumann, past-president, Academy ofFamily Mediators and author of Choosing a Divorce Mediator: A Guideto Helping Couples Find a Competent Mediator) "Based on her extensive experience as a divorce mediator, PaulaJames explains why couples seeking a divorce should mediate and howto do so. Clear, interesting, informative. A must read for troubledmarriages." (Robert Coulson, former CEO of the American ArbitrationAssociation) "The real strength of this book is its detailed discussions of theissues a divorcing couple must address, regardless of how theydissolve their marriage. . . . RecommAnded for consumer lawcollections." ?The Divorce Mediation Handbook should be offered to divorcingfamilies by court clerks, clergy, lawyers, therapists, andmediators. Paula James has demystified the mediation process andthis book helps divorcing spouses make better informed choicesabout how to take control of their lives, protect their legalrights, and reduce the financial transaction costs in Anding amarriage.? (Forrest S. Mosten, certified family law specialist andmediator, Los Angeles, California and author of The Complete Guideto Mediation) "[James] provides the reader a solid basis for understanding thepersonal costs of divorce, for both the spouses and the children.The book is well written and will well meet the needs of literateclients who are going through the divorce process, whether or notthey decide to use mediation."