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Pricing for Our Mediation Services

At Northeast Ohio Family Law and Mediation LLC, we believe in being upfront about the costs associated with our mediation services. We aim to provide high-quality, efficient, and thoughtful mediation at a cost that is lower than court litigation and lawyer-driven negotiations. Mediation costs are based on each client’s unique circumstances, ensuring that they receive value without unnecessary expense.

How We Structure Our Costs

Hourly Rate: We charge an hourly rate for all services, including preparation, mediation sessions, post-session work, and drafting agreements.
Deposit: A deposit is collected before mediation begins to ensure both parties are committed to the process. This deposit is applied at the conclusion of mediation and any remaining balance is refunded.
Itemized Invoices: After each session, we provide a detailed, itemized invoice for all fees for services. Invoices are split equally (50/50) between the parties and are due prior to the next session, allowing our clients to pay as they go and budget accordingly.

Average Cost of Our Mediation Process

The total cost will depend on several factors, such as the complexity of issues, level of cooperation, and preparedness. Here are the average cost ranges:

Dissolution of Marriage and Divorce: $2,250 to $3,750 per person
Custody and Shared Parenting: $1,250 to $2,250 per person
Post-Decree Issues and Modification: $1,250 to $2,250 per person
Litigation Support: $1,250 to $4,500 per person
Marital Mediation and Prenuptial/Postnuptial Agreements: $750 to $2,500 per person

Mediation is significantly more affordable than traditional legal processes by saving our clients 50-75% compared to the cost of litigation ($25,000+ per person on average for divorce or custody disputes) or lawyer-driven negotiations ($10,000+ per person on average for dissolution). Additionally, mediation minimizes emotional stress, preserves relationships, and allows for greater control over the outcome.

We have found that some clients have never experienced legal matters or have never worked with attorneys. For context, most attorneys charge an hourly rate and require a retainer paid up front to begin work. However, a retainer is only an initial deposit and not the total cost. It is difficult for an attorney to quote a total fee, especially for a family law matter because of the unknowns, and that is why attorney fees typically far exceed the initial retainer payment. Because mediation is a structured process, we can provide an estimate for total mediation fees based on our experience with other similarly situated cases to help our clients control and minimize costs, including attorney fees to support the mediation process.

Factors That Can Help Reduce the Cost of Mediation

Preparedness and Clarity: Providing necessary documents, completing pre-session assignments, and understanding priorities streamline the process and promote faster decision-making.
Cooperation and Respect: Open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to compromise foster smoother discussions and quicker resolutions.
Simplified Financial Arrangements: Straightforward marital estates and simple divisions reduce the complexity of untangling shared assets and obligations.
Low-Conflict Dynamics: Emotionally regulated, respectful interactions, and valuing the other party’s input help maintain constructive discussions.
Early Legal Advice: Consulting an attorney in advance ensures clarity, avoids unnecessary disputes, and allows for efficient finalization of agreements.
Narrowed Focus: Resolving pre-agreed or fewer issues allows mediation to stay targeted, reducing time and costs.

Factors That Can Increase the Cost of Mediation

Unpreparedness: Missing documents, incomplete information, or lack of readiness to discuss key issues can lead to inefficiencies and higher costs.
Resistance to Collaboration: Unwillingness to consider options and compromise, explore creative solutions, or set realistic expectations can prolong the process.
Complex Marital Estates: High-net-worth cases, business interests, joint debts, exchange of spousal support or child support, or separate property tracing often require additional analysis and effort.
High Emotions and Outside Influences: Intense emotions, high-conflict dynamics, or interference from external parties such as family, friends, and significant others can complicate negotiations and extend timelines.
Lack of Early Legal Advice: Failing to consult an attorney early in the process can lead to unnecessary issues and inefficiencies.
Difficult Financial or Custody Issues: High-conflict relationships, contentious parenting disputes, or complex property division often require expert input, additional time, and multiple sessions to ensure thorough resolutions.

Each of these factors highlights the importance of preparation, collaboration, and professional guidance to ensure mediation remains efficient and cost-effective.

What Is Included in Our Mediation Fees?

NEO Family Law’s mediation services are designed to provide unparalleled value, both tangible and intrinsic, to clients navigating family law matters. Our comprehensive process includes:

Certified-Specialist Guidance: Mediation sessions with our mediator, who has over a decade of attorney experience including in litigation and alternative dispute resolution, which ensures effective mediation.
Comprehensive Preparation: Agendas, document lists, and preparatory materials provided to keep sessions focused and efficient.
Document Management: A secure, confidential document portal for exchanging, organizing, and sharing documents to streamline the process, including attorney and professional access if needed.
Session Summaries: Written summaries to help reflect, consult with attorneys, and prepare for the next steps.
Advanced Tools: Projections for ranges of potential spousal support, child support guideline worksheets, and detailed spreadsheets on property division for financial disclosure purposes.
Professional Referrals: Connections to trusted professionals for specialized assistance, including attorneys, financial advisors, appraisers, counselors, and coaches.
Educational Resources: Access to legal information, tools, and forms to help make informed decisions considering budgets and family needs.
Drafting Agreements: Detailed memorandums of understanding on separation agreements, shared parenting plans, and other agreements for easy conversion to legal documents for court filing.
Seamless Transition to Attorneys: Ensures agreements are finalized efficiently, saving time and avoiding duplicate efforts.
Facilitated Communications: Discussions that are moderated by a professional in a safe and confidential environment to promote continued respectful and productive communication outside of mediation that is otherwise difficult.
Additional Support: Scheduling, document collection, and process organization handled by a mediation coordinator to reduce delays and cost.

Not Sure Whether Mediation is Right?

We understand that divorce and separation can be a big decision and not everyone is ready to jump in with both feet. We also appreciate potential apprehension on whether mediation will be successful or whether both parties will engage in the process. We also recognize that some couples may be on the brink of divorce but have not yet decided whether to pursue marriage counseling or move forward with separation.

In the above scenarios, we offer a dual consultation, which is a single mediation session designed to provide more information about separation, options to consider, how the mediation process works in practice, and facilitate discussions between parties about the next steps. Our dual consultation is a 1.5-hour meeting that can include discussions on:

Whether to move forward with divorce or separation;
Whether to engage in marriage counseling;
The legal process options;
The pros and cons of mediation versus other processes;
An overview of the financial and parenting issues involved;
An overview of the legal documents needed; and
Expectations for mediation, timing, and the next steps.

Our dual consultation also provides a preview of mediation including whether our clients can sit in the same room together, discuss the issues productively, and ultimately engage in the process. We structure the dual consultation based on our clients’ specific needs.

We charge a one-time fee of $500 ($250 per person) for the dual consultation. Our dual consultation is not a legal consultation, and we will not provide legal advice. It is just another option to start the mediation process and moving forward.

Get a Customized Estimate by Contacting Us

Every family’s situation is unique, and we encourage people to reach out for an informational call (at no-charge) to discuss their specific needs. During this call, we will:

Review the situation.
Provide an overview of the mediation process.
Offer a customized cost estimate based on the circumstances.

Take the first step toward a cost-effective and amicable resolution. Call us at 440-696-0550 or contact us online.