Divorce mediation, start to signed agreement.

In mediation, the two of you sit down with one neutral professional and work through the terms of your divorce directly. Jessica has practiced matrimonial law in New Jersey for thirteen years, and she still does. She knows how these agreements are written, how they hold up, and where they tend to break. In mediation she does not represent either spouse; her role is to keep the conversation productive, flag the issues you have not thought about yet, and draft the agreement once you have reached terms.

Not every divorce is a fight, and not every divorce involves children. Many couples who choose mediation have been married only a few years, hold few joint assets, and agree on most things already. For situations like that, mediation is often brief: a few sessions to settle the open questions, and a properly drafted agreement so you can finish cleanly and move on.

What we work through

The scope depends on your situation, and typically covers:

• Division of assets and debts: accounts, property, vehicles, business interests, and the liabilities attached to them
• The marital home: sold, retained, or transferred, and how equity and carrying costs are handled
• Retirement accounts and pensions: how deferred assets are valued and divided
• Spousal and child support: whether support is appropriate, in what amount, and for how long
• Tax considerations: how the structure of an agreement affects each of you at filing time
• Custody and parenting time, where there are children (covered in depth on its own page)

How the process runs

It starts with a complimentary consultation, up to thirty minutes, where you can both ask questions and decide whether mediation is the right path. If you proceed, each of you completes an intake form separately, covering assets, debts, income, and children. Jessica reviews both before the first session, so the sessions themselves go to the actual issues rather than inventory.

Sessions are billed hourly. Many couples reach terms in three or four sessions; some settle things in one or two, and some need more. The pace is set by the two of you, not by a court calendar.

What you have at the end

When you have reached agreement, Jessica may draft a Matrimonial Settlement Agreement that reflects the terms you set, or prepare a term sheet for your own attorneys to draft from. She explains what is in it, answers your questions, and walks you through the next steps, including the route to an uncontested divorce where that applies. Each spouse remains free to have an independent attorney review the agreement before signing, and many people choose to.

Fees

Sessions are billed hourly, and in most cases the cost is shared between spouses. Rates are discussed at your consultation, so you know the full picture before committing to anything. Details on how billing works are in the fees section.