by Jennifer Hatch

 

Historically, divorce mediators have been encouraged to screen out cases involving intimate partner violence.  This approach presumes that mediation would harm rather than benefit victims of intimate partner violence (“IPV”).  Lawyers and IPV Advocates have also been discouraged from allowing their clients to participate in mediation when there are allegations of IPV, based on the same presumption.  However, isn’t it possible that we are doing a disservice to our profession and to families who have experienced the trauma of intimate partner violence when we deny them the same...