Mediation is a settlement meeting where a neutral, impartial third person, called a mediator, helps the parties to come to agreements about their family issues. The mediation conference is informal, confidential and non-adversarial. The conference takes place in a private conference room where the parties meet together or in separate rooms. The purpose of mediation is to open up lines of communication and to explore all possibilities of settlement in order to resolve family issues. The role of the mediator includes helping the parties identify issues, fostering joint problem solving, exploring settlement options and finding creative solution to family matters. If the parties reach a settlement in mediation, the mediator can draw up a written agreement for the parties to sign.