Mediation is a confidential, non-adversarial approach to resolving matters in dispute. It serves as a practical and positive platform to negotiate outside the traditional court process and is more cost-effective and collaborative than long drawn-out court battles. Family mediation is the first option for family dispute resolution where the primary aim is to promote effective communication, reduce the emotional and financial stress involved, focus the attention on the best interests of the children and arrive at reasonable agreements with the direct involvement of the parties. As experienced mediators, we will facilitate this process to help resolve issues that have arisen out of separation or divorce.
This is difficult to say how long mediation will take as it depends on the complexity of each case and each party’s commitment to the negotiation process. Some cases are resolved relatively quickly, but some parents continue to struggle with their pre-existing entrenched conflict playing out in mediation and may need court proceedings to resolve their disagreements.
Mediation services are charged at a rate of $250 per hour. Parents are asked to provide a retainer of $2,500 (or $1,250 each) to start the process, which includes intake questionnaires, individual parent intake meetings and a four-hour mediation session.
It is a final written agreement, which includes the parenting plan and other important family issues agreed upon by both parties. Parents are advised to seek independent legal advice prior to agreeing to the final mediated agreement. Some parents choose to use the final Mediated Agreement as a working document to implement their parenting plan without having it legalized at court. However, parents need to understand that their mediated agreement is not a legally enforceable document. You may wish to submit the agreement to family court to seek a legal court order issued by a judge.
