Q: What purpose will mediation serve in your case, and by implication, how much should you invest (emotionally and financially) in the process?

Mediation is by its very nature a voluntary process. So when it is part of the "process" or ordered by the court - it's not voluntary and missing a fundamental component of its success in other circumstances.

It also comes early on in the process where anger, tensions, pain, and distrust are at their peak, while familiarity with finances, lawyers and legal issues are not maximized. All of this is not conducive to any sort of meaningful settlement opportunity. When one or both parties aren't "ready" to settle, mediation does no good or alternatively - does harm. One example is that if you appear to eager or desperate to settle, the other side will use that as an opportunity to punish you by dragging it out or taking unreasonable positions.

On the up side - it is an opportunity for the case to settle early on and if not a settlement, for the parties to suss out where the contentious issues lie with one another to limit the scope of the conflict.

Where mediation tends to work: numbers issues, co-parenting schedules when custody and basic time-splits are agreed

Where mediation tends not to work: custody issues

If you are in a high conflict divorce with custody issues predominating, for example, the chances of mediation serving its intended purpose of settling the case are very, very low. So meeting your obligations of participating in good faith and being ready to seize a settlement opportunity should be your goal. Prepare your basic settlement positions on all issues and if you're surprised by a moment of clarity from the other side - try to hammer something out, which may then evaporate after a night's sleep.

On the other hand, if you are in a low conflict divorce with high transparency and purely financial issues - well, mediation is probably unnecessary as you and your stbx have probably already settled the issues but can be useful for any sticky issues that remain outstanding.

If your case is somewhere in the middle, then it's worth considering a bit more investment in lawyer time to prepare more detailed settlement positions and even reach out to your stbx prior to the mediation to express your desire to make use of this process.

Bottom line: unless your case is ripe for settlement, don't put too much hope or money into mediation.