It is a requirement of the Family division of the Superior Court, not a state law that couples seeking a divorce go through marriage counseling. I have seen couples before the judge expecting their non-contested divorce to be granted, asked if they have gone through counseling and if not (to the satisfaction of the judge <testimony, letter from counselor, etc..) be sent to the mediation center to arrange counseling,
It has nothing to do with making the process more amicable. Some couples go through months or years of counseling before seeking a divorce and the process is still ruthless and bitter.
I had a client last year who had the marriage counselor release the records of counseling sessions to both attorneys. After the 3rd session, the counselor stated to the couple that the marriage should not be saved, additional sessions would be a waste of time and money and that divorce was the answer.
Also, I practice family law, which also includes wills, estates, trusts, adoptions, guardianships, conservatorships. I am not a ‘divorce lawyer’ per se.