In Duval County, as well as many other counties, a judge will not allow the parties to go to trial without first going to mediation.  Basically, a mediator, who is agreed upon by the representing attorneys, is assigned the task of showing the parties the weaknesses and strengths of their case.  The goal is to bring the parties to a settlement that resolves some or all of the issues in the case.  Mediation is extremely successful as long as both parties are represented by an attorney, and mediation is always cheaper (typically by half) than going to trial.  Mediation is also an excellent time for a lawyer to learn something about the other spouse’s arguments that will ultimately be made at trial.