In an Indiana divorce, after the Provisional Hearing, the parties to an Indiana divorce action enter a nebulous period known as discovery.  Discovery is a period of time during which the parties are allowed to investigate, for lack of a better term, each other.  This is done through interrogatories (a fancy word for questions), depositions, or subpoenas.  The parties may hire experts to review financial documents or as needed to assess certain assets or debts.  For example, with military divorces I contact an individual who fully and completely understands the ins and outs of military pensions.  The discovery period can as short as a few weeks or as long as a few years.

After discovery is completed some courts require the parties to attend mediation.  In an Indian divorce action, Mediation is a process where a third party, usually an attorney, tries to resolve the case.  Each mediator has their own style, but typically the parties are put in separate rooms and the mediator goes back an forth between the room with offers to settle.  The mediator cannot be called to testify about offers made during mediation.