Decision support
One Lawyer vs Mediation
Addresses: Isn't mediation basically the same thing, but cheaper?
A mediator is neutral and cannot give legal advice to either party. One lawyer advising both of you does give legal advice — jointly. Many couples use both: legal advice to understand rights, mediation to work through detail. They aren't mutually exclusive.
Mediation and joint legal advice solve different problems. A mediator facilitates agreement but stays neutral — legally, they can’t tell either of you what you’re entitled to. A lawyer advising you both jointly does give you that legal grounding, so you understand your position before or while you negotiate.
The two aren’t competing options — mediation alone works well for couples confident in their own understanding of the law; joint legal advice fills that gap when you’re not.