“Mediation” is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR); a way to resolve disputes between two or more persons without presenting the issues to a court to decide. Mediation can be conducted by a judge (who is not the judge assigned to ultimately hear the disputed issues) or a trained mediator who is a lawyer, psychologist, social worker, financial planner, or who has other knowledge in how to resolve disputes. In mediation, the mediator helps the involved parties work out an agreeable resolution of the disputed issues, rather than “deciding” the issues for the parties. The term “mediation” refers broadly to any instance in which a third party helps others reach agreement.