Questions people ask about mediation.

What is divorce mediation?

Both spouses work with one neutral professional to reach the terms of their divorce together. The mediator keeps the process structured and helps identify the issues that need resolving. Once you have reached terms, Jessica may draft the Matrimonial Settlement Agreement, or may prepare a term sheet for your own attorneys to draft from.

Where do you work?

The practice is based in Bergen County, New Jersey, and serves clients throughout New Jersey and New York. Sessions are conducted remotely, so where you live is rarely a limitation.

For couples who prefer to work with someone nearby, the practice is within about an hour's drive of most of northern New Jersey and the lower Hudson Valley: Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Sussex, and Union Counties in New Jersey, and Rockland, Westchester, Orange, and Putnam Counties in New York, along with Manhattan and the Bronx. If you are outside that area, remote sessions work just as well.

Is mediation right for every couple?

No. Mediation works when both spouses are willing to participate and to share the information the process needs, particularly financial information. You do not need to agree on the issues going in. You do both need to want a resolution.

The free consultation exists partly for this: to help you judge, before spending anything, whether mediation fits your situation.

We were not married long and mostly agree. Is mediation still worth it?

Often, yes. Shorter marriages with few joint assets and no children tend to be the quickest matters, sometimes needing only a session or two to settle the open questions before the agreement is drafted. Mediation is not only for contested divorces; for couples who mostly agree, it is a structured way to put the terms in writing properly and move on.

Do we still need our own lawyers?

During mediation, Jessica is a neutral third party and does not represent either spouse. Each of you remains free to consult an independent attorney at any point in the process, and many people have one review the settlement agreement before signing. Whether to do so is your own choice, and it is one Jessica will discuss openly with you.

How long does mediation take?

It depends on your situation, so treat any number as a rough guide rather than a promise. Sessions are billed hourly. Many couples reach terms in three or four sessions; some need only one or two, and others need more. The pace is set by the two of you rather than a court calendar.

What does mediation cost?

Sessions are billed hourly, and in most cases the cost is shared between spouses. One hour of preparation is billed before the first session so Jessica can review both intake forms in advance. Current rates and payment options are discussed at the free consultation, so you know the full picture before committing to anything.

Is mediation private?

Mediation is conducted between the two of you and the mediator, so the details of your finances and family life are worked through privately.

What happens once we reach an agreement?

Jessica may draft a Matrimonial Settlement Agreement reflecting the terms you set, or prepare a term sheet for your own attorneys to draft from. She explains what is in it and walks you through the next steps, including the route to an uncontested divorce where that applies to your situation.

What if we cannot agree on everything?

Couples sometimes resolve most issues in mediation and narrow what remains, which can make whatever comes next simpler. If mediation does not produce a full agreement, you keep every other option you had, including litigation.