As a mediator, I do not appear in court with a couple at the hearing of their divorce. As counsel for a client in an uncontested divorce, I may have been retained to review a separation agreement, or as collaborative counsel - to negotiate an agreement with my client's spouse and his or her attorney. When I am hired by one divorcing spouse I often accompany my client to court. Therefore, divorce mediation only succeeds when both spouses actively make a good-faith effort to reach agreement. With no legal obligation to resolve their differences, each spouse's genuine commitment to achieve a fair and reasonable agreement is essential for their divorce mediation to succeed.
Most couples share the cost of their mediation.
This fee applies to all my time spent in meetings, on the telephone, and in drafting agreements and other documents. All retainers are deposited in a clients' trust account and applied against billed time and expenses. After the mediation ends any trust account balance due to clients is promptly refunded. I encourage clients to do as much work as possible on their own to help minimize their mediation costs. I invite you to ask specific questions about your particular situation.