Most counties in Arizona offer and even require you to attend mediation to resolve and discuss custody matters even if both parents agree on everything. The court will issue an order to the mediation program to schedule a date for mediation. It is mandatory that you attend this session. You will have a few hours to meet with the mediator to discuss the points you both agree and disagree on. The mediator will write down in a parenting plan the things you agree on. The mediator will work with both of you to try and bring about a compromise on the things you do not agree on. At the conclusion you either leave with a complete agreement, a partial agreement or no agreement.
Mediation should be a positive thing for you. It is a way to resolve custody issues at no cost to you. If you don't agree In mediation you will have to continue trying to negotiate through lawyers if you have them and ultimately have a trial if no agreement can be reached. Custody trials are the longest, most expensive and emotionally agonizing part of a divorce and should be avoided at all costs. You will be happier in the long run compromising on some things than having a trial. In negotiation and compromise you know and can control your priority level on the various disputed issues. You can give up things less important and hold tighter to the most important things. A judge isn't going to know the order that contested issues fall in your list of priorities.
Use mediation to avoid a huge headache and money pit.
