This report summarizes and compares the views of expert groups of lawyers, psychotherapists, and clergy on the divorcing process and the role of the professional in assisting the divorcing. There was considerably greater difference of opinion on these issues among the lawyers than among either the therapists or clergy. (Author)

Despite the rapidly rising divorce rate and the importance of the divorce settlement agreement for the spouses' financial and emotional well-being, factors influencing the effectiveness of divorce negotiations have received very little attention. To assess the major determinants of successful divorce negotiations between divorcing spouses and…

Attempted to validate previously identified classification of divorce attorneys as Counselors or Advocates and to assess practitioner attitudes towards divorce reform. Found that concordance rate for classification was not statistically different from chance. Concerning attitudes, most respondents expressed dissatisfaction with current legal…

Reviews the empirical research on divorce mediation with regard to: (1) the overall effectiveness of mediation, especially compared to the traditional use of lawyers; (2) the kinds of divorce conflicts in which mediation has been found most effective; and (3) mediator behaviors most often correlated with success. The existing studies are solely of…