Divorce Mediation

Fairly divide assets and debts, develop parenting plans that help your children thrive, and build a strong foundation for independent new beginnings.

Two Mediators

Sean and Gina Vitrano mediate as a team.

Lawyers Not Required

Lawyers do not participate in mediation sessions.

Flexible Scheduling

In person or virtual, whatever fits best.

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Your Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Divorce Mediation

What is mediation?

Mediation is a process in which a neutral expert helps you resolve all issues related to the dissolution of your marriage. Unlike a judge, the mediator does not make decisions for you. Instead, the mediator guides you through a negotiation toward a settlement. The mediator helps identify issues, eliminate communication barriers, and evaluate possible solutions.

Why choose mediation?

It’s faster, cheaper, more convenient, and less stressful than the alternatives. Plus, you get to decide what happens to your money and what’s best for your children.

Do I need an attorney?

You do not need a lawyer to mediate. In most cases we handle, unless mediation has been court-ordered, lawyers typically do not attend and do not negotiate on behalf of the parties.

However, we do recommend that you hire consulting attorneys. As mediators, we cannot provide legal advice. Also, we cannot draft your separation agreement or prepare divorce papers. We will provide you with a detailed summary of the agreements you reach in mediation, which you or your attorney can use to draft your separation agreement.

What issues do you mediate?

For spouses who have not yet separated, we routinely mediate the terms of the separation — who will move out of the marital residence, how bills will be paid during the period of separation, and how the parties will initially share parenting responsibilities.

In a negotiation involving a separation agreement, we will address the division and distribution of marital property and marital debts, spousal support (postseparation support and alimony), custody, and child support.

How long does mediation take?

Most cases can be successfully mediated in 3-4 sessions occurring over a few weeks. To keep things manageable, we usually work in blocks of 2 hours. We will ask you to do some homework between sessions. This typically involves gathering information and thinking about your proposals. The more prepared you are, the faster you’ll reach a resolution.

Is mediation confidential?

Mediation occurs in private, and you and your spouse can agree to keep matters discussed and your agreements confidential.

Also, we as your mediators cannot disclose what you tell us in mediation, except in very limited circumstances. This provides you with the opportunity to have a frank and open discussion about what you both need to be financially secure.

What if we can’t agree on everything?

About 90% of couples who mediate reach full agreement. But even if you don’t resolve everything, you still benefit:

A partial agreement saves money. If you agree on 80% of issues, your attorneys only negotiate the remaining 20%, dramatically reducing their time and your costs.

You’ve lost nothing. If mediation doesn’t work, you can still hire attorneys. You’ve simply tried the less expensive path first.

How much does mediation cost?

It depends on you. We bill for time spent in mediation, reviewing and organizing documents, and summarizing information and agreements you reach. There’s no deposit or retainer; you pay as you go. You can commit to mediation one session at a time and can stop if it is not working for you.

You can do things to reduce your costs. The more work you do between sessions, such as gathering, organizing, and accurately summarizing financial records, the faster you will proceed through mediation.

What cases are not appropriate for mediation?

During initial phone calls and at your joint consultation, we’ll screen your case to determine if mediation is appropriate. Generally, mediation is not appropriate in cases involving abuse or where one party has a motive other than negotiating a settlement in good faith. In addition, we reserve the right to end mediation if one party tries to dominate the negotiation or improperly influence the decisions of the other, or if a proposed agreement seems unconscionable.

Do you offer a free mediation consultation?

Yes! We offer a free 30-minute mediation consultation by Zoom or Google Meet, which both spouses should attend. We’ll talk about the process in detail and make sure it is right for you.

Schedule a mediation consultation