Mediation gives parents the opportunity to create a parenting plan for the care of their children after separation. A parenting plan contains decisions made by the parents or the court about the living arrangements and other regular contact that the children will have with their parents after the separation or divorce.

There is no set limit on the number of mediation sessions needed to create a parenting plan that serves in the best interest of the children. If no agreement is reached over the course of the mediation process, and it appears that further sessions will be unproductive, the case is generally referred back to the court for a hearing and the judge will make a decision about an appropriate parenting plan.