Impasse means the parties cannot reach agreement on one or more issues despite negotiation or mediation efforts. In mediation an impasse may be declared at the end of a session where the gap between the parties on a specific issue cannot be bridged.

An impasse on one issue does not mean the entire mediation has failed. Partial resolution — settling what can be settled and taking only the remaining impasse issues to the court — is often the right outcome.

When impasse is reached ask whether the obstacle is informational or positional. The answer determines the next step.