Divorcing couples in Florida have more options than ever to end a marriage. While none of them promise a delightful experience, some, like divorce mediation, are considered more polite than traditional divorces, which could include knock-down, drag-out court battles.

But mediation is not always a replacement for standard divorce, according to attorneys who specialize in the mediation process.

Myths have sprung up around the practice of mediation that make it appear as a divorce cure-all. Lawyers who are mediators agree that some divorcing couples are better off using a non-mediation attorney from the start.

Couples who have already come to terms over issues of separation sometimes request a mediator to intervene. Mediators are the first to admit that couples who can resolve problems themselves do not need mediation.

If a couple splits amicably, an agreed-upon settlement is generally already in place. The next step is for each spouse to engage an attorney to process the divorce and seek a judge's approval.

More often, mediators find that divorcing spouses are so far apart on what each believes is fair that all the mediators in the world will not get them to agree.

Mediation is ideal for divorcing couples who wish to avoid contention, but still have issues to decide. Mediators act as neutral guides -- not legal advisers -- to help couples reach an agreement outside of court.

The atmosphere of a mediation session lowers a couple's volatility level. Mediators deflect arguments by encouraging reasonable outcomes, while maintaining an objective role.

Mediation is a means to a working, cooperative agreement decided by both parties. It encourages a settlement on the couple's terms rather than a court's ruling.

Couples convinced that divorce is a win or lose situation are disappointed when mediators refuse to take sides or make judgment calls. Spouses must be reasonable if they choose mediation, since a spouse or couple unwilling to negotiate defeats the purpose of the process.

Mediation works well only when both spouses are motivated to work out problems. Spouses who reach a verbal agreement are still advised to hire separate family law attorneys to review the settlement before signing and processing the divorce.

Source: The Huffington Post, "What Most People Don't Know About Divorce Mediation," J. Richard Kulerski and Kari Cornelison, Jan. 24, 2012