How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost?

Divorce mediation has many advantages over traditional litigation. One of the biggest benefits of divorce mediation versus traditional divorce is the cost. Mediation is usually much less expensive than a series of hearings or a court trial.

Here you will learn more about the factors that affect costs in a divorce and how much you can expect to pay to hire a mediator.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce Mediation is a way to negotiate an out-of-court settlement in a divorce case. In divorce mediation, you and your spouse, together with your lawyers if you are represented, hire a neutral third party known as a mediator. The mediator’s role is to help you identify and resolve issues in your divorce. The mediator does not offer advice or make decisions; rather, they facilitate a conversation or series of conversations around settlement to help you and your spouse work out the resolution of your divorce issues.

Issues resolved with divorce mediation include:

• Division of assets and property. Property and assets may include the marital home and other belongings. It also includes dividing any shared accounts such as retirement, checking and savings accounts.
• Legal Decision Making and Parenting Time. Parents must negotiate a schedule for sharing time with their child or children and how major child-related decisions will be made; and
• Child support and spousal maintenance. Family support obligations must be discussed and agreed.

How Much Does a Divorce Mediator Cost?

Although some mediators charge a flat rate for their services, most mediators will charge for their time on an hourly basis. You can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $500 per hour to hire a private mediator for divorce mediation services according to Thumbtack and other sources.

Spouses who participate in private mediation sessions will have the chance to discuss everything related to their divorce, including legal decision making, child support, and asset division issues. Anything discussed during mediation sessions remains confidential and cannot be used by either party in a court room if no agreement is reached.

What is the Average Cost of Divorce Mediation?

The Court can order parties to attend a type of ADR settlement conference that is free. With this type of conference, a Judge Pro Tempore serves a mediation-type function, facilitating settlement discussions between the parties. Some communities offer low-cost mediation services, but qualification depends on your financial situation and other factors..

Private divorce mediation, depending on the complexity of the documents and the mediator’s hourly rates, can range from about $500.00 to $2,000.00 or more. The court’s filing fees for legal documents are separate and apart from the mediator’s fees for services rendered.

Divorce mediation costs are often paid from joint funds or shared in whatever other manner the divorcing couple agree.

Divorce Mediation Cost Factors

The total cost of divorce mediation will depend on the case and different cost factors including;

• Initial Fee. Some divorce mediators charge a set-up fee to start your case;
• Mediation sessions. The more mediation sessions you have, the more it will cost;
• The hourly rates of the  attorney or non-attorney mediator..

Other potential costs associated divorce mediation include:

• Document creation;
• Cancelation of mediation sessions;
• Case management fees;
• Filing requests for divorce mediation; and
• Keep written records of all mediation sessions.

Sources:

1. Hamblen, Katie. “How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost?” LegalMatch Law Library, 18 June 2019, https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/how-much-does-divorce-mediation-cost.html.
2. Heinig, Melissa. “Divorce Mediation FAQ.” www.nolo.com, Nolo, 14 Feb. 2013, https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/divorce-mediation-faq.html.

See Also:

• What is Divorce Mediation?
• Divorce Mediation Pros and Cons
• Amicable Divorce Checklist: Get Prepared for a Peaceful Divorce
• How Much Does Divorce Cost?

Speak with Our Divorce Mediators In Arizona Today!

While the divorce mediation process is not for everyone, this process can save you money, stress, and hassle. Speak with a divorce mediator to find out if divorce mediation is right for your family. Many of the professionals on BestLegalChoices.com are also divorce mediators and can provide you with a great deal of information about your options.