- Getting Started
- The Detente Process
- What does a marriage/family counselor do in mediation?
- What is interest based negotiation? How is it different from positional bargaining?
- Does a Detente mediator make a binding decision for us?
- How does it work with neutral experts? Where do you find them?
- What happens if we can't reach agreement in Detente Mediation?
- What kind of information do we exchange? Who decides what is "relevant" and what happens if there is a disagreement about that?
- Resources
Personal Settlements

In Détente Mediation you and your spouse or parent of your child will sign a written agreement stating that you will voluntarily exchange relevant information with each other regarding your divorce or conservatorship (child custody, possession, and parenting plan) dispute. This avoids the need for expensive, stressful, and time consuming discovery of the same information through depositions and formal written requests for documents. What you exchange in mediation in Texas is private and confidential. It cannot be used outside of mediation except under certain limited circumstances.
"Relevant" generally means information and documents that you or your spouse would consider important to making a decision about how to resolve your issues in your divorce or conservatorship (child custody, possession, and parenting plan) dispute. If there is a question in your mind about whether something is "relevant", you could try asking a neutral family law divorce lawyer or a retired judge for an opinion.

