Mediation is confidential; offers made there generally cannot be used in court later. Nothing binds until signed — and signed agreements bind hard.
The rules condition mediation and parenting-coordination referrals on safety: histories of domestic violence and circumstances compromising the process are screening criteria, not afterthoughts (Rules 12.740–12.742).
Preparation is leverage: the party with organized numbers, pre-run support scenarios, and a must-have / negotiable / walk-away sheet shapes the deal.