Divorce
Mediation Services

Is your situation suited for mediation vs using the courts? That depends. The most important characteristics of people finding success using mediation are a willingness to not be disagreeable, a willingness to listen to other parties and to be respectful, a desire to keep expenses of working through disagreements at a minimum, and a desire to complete the process with a higher good in mind. Examples of a higher good might be a desire for the mutual happiness of the parties going forward after the dispute is settled or being focused on the best interests of their children. There are others.
Mediation is referred to as a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and it uses the assistance of a neutral and impartial mediator to encourage and facilitate parties to resolve a dispute. Unlike the formal and conflict-centered method used in the courts, mediation is informal and non-adversarial. Mediation frequently results in finding a mutually accepted agreement crafted solely by the parties. The agreement can be tailored to a couple’s individual needs and concerns and more often than not, the agreement results with the parties not being angry at each other. It is also important to know that a mediation agreement is legally binding and enforceable. An additional and important benefit of mediation is that it permits you to tell your story without the story being filtered by attorney misinterpretation or by the use of incendiary words which do little other than inflame the parties.

So should you consider mediation? If you have at least one characteristic of the people who usually find success in mediation, or even if you desire to have one of the characteristics, you are urged to consider mediation as an option to help you navigate through your dispute. When compared to using the legal system mediation is almost always less expensive. Mediation is certainly less conflict-laden than when using the courts. And the result of mediation always is an agreement you can support vs an agreement imposed upon you by a court. This is so because the court neither knows you nor has concerns about what is important to you.

How Much Does Mediation Cost?

How much can you expect the bottom line to be? That depends; no couple’s situation is typical. If no children are involved, the couple agrees on the terms of the relationship following a divorce, and if the two plan to be fair in settling the details of the economic division, mediation can be inexpensive – even with substantial assets. When only the details of the economic division require mediation, a divorcing couple might need two to four hours of mediation, including paperwork, to work out the details.
With children, the cost normally is higher. Frequently, mediations involving children revolve around emotional and logistical issues. For example, issues for mediation may include coordination of schedules for after-school care, school drop-offs and pickups, school selection, religious preferences, expense division for extracurricular activities and more. An accurate estimate of time to work through these details is difficult because facts among couples vary greatly. A realistic time range, including paperwork, is four to 10 hours.

Our professionals focus on keeping mediation costs low. Our streamlined procedures and professional collaboration permit us to complete the mediation process more effectively and, as a result, we generally bill fewer hours. Why? Mediation is what we do. While a majority of mediators are attorneys, for most of the mediation is a sideline or additional service. They are primarily litigators. We specialize in family mediation – and only family mediation. Our orientation is toward peace, and, if there are children, we focus on a couple’s common interest in wanting the children to be happy and balanced when they are adults. Our operating principles align with what you want: Peace in the aftermath of your divorce.

On an hourly basis, our rate or price of mediation ($250.00 an hour) is higher than rates charged by some mediators. On a basis of total cost, however (how much you pay altogether), our rates generally are lower because of our streamlined procedures and efficiency. Income-based lower rates may be available. Click Here for more detailed information on our rates, procedures, and policies.

So where do you go from here?

If you want additional information about mediation or if you wish to schedule a free initial consultation with a Heartland Family Mediators professional, click the button below and see if mediation as a solution can be in your future.

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