Divorce Mediation

The service you’ll receive

Mediation is a cost-effective, time-saving alternative to a litigated divorce.

As your mediator, I facilitate safe and productive conversations, during which you and your spouse prepare your divorce filing and work out the terms of your Separation Agreement.

Sometimes my clients argue during sessions, which can be an important part of healing. I hold space for big emotions and gently guide clients back to a productive workspace.

Mediation is not therapy, but there is a therapeutic aspect to the process that provides many of my clients with a deeper sense of understanding and closure.

I don't take sides, give advice, or make judgments. My personal style is neutral-positive. This means that my hope for both of you is to emerge from this process feeling as good as you can about your agreement and the way you handled yourself.

Your process is voluntary and confidential.

The work you’ll do

During mediation sessions, you and your spouse create the terms of your divorce and fulfill all requirements for your court filing. As your mediator, I will help you:

Calculate child support and alimony

Design a co-parenting plan that supports a two-household family

Divide assets and retirement accounts

Discuss all topics necessary to build a fair and equitable Separation Agreement

Complete all court paperwork

Have an opportunity to experience some degree of closure through mediated conversation (if desired - not all couples choose to do this).

The money and time you’ll save

Mediation offers you greater control over your divorce process--from timing to cost to outcomes. A mediated divorce will save upwards of $9,000 per party when compared to a litigated divorce. The average couple saves at least six months of negotiating time when they meditate their divorce.

“Stay married or get divorced” Coaching

What it is

We call this type of coaching “discernment.” Discernment is the period of time when you and your spouse are struggling to decide whether to stay married or pursue divorce.

How it works

Couples meet with me four times over four weeks. During this time, you participate in activities that help you achieve clarity on your strengths and weaknesses as a couple. You will practice mindful communication skills, speaking in plain language your concerns and hopes for your future together. You will engage in simple homework assignments throughout the week.

Why it’s effective

One of the many benefits of working with me as a marital discernment coach, is that couples have safe space and dedicated time to have difficult conversations about the future of their partnership. Sometimes, these conversations result in reconciliation. Other times, these sessions result in divorce. Either way, families will save years of deliberation and suffering.

Marital Mediation

The service you’ll receive

You and your spouse will begin by filling out online intakes that use algorithms to map out the strengths and challenges in your relationship.

This intake helps us to target areas to focus on during sessions. Over the course of four weekly sessions (2-2.5 hours each), I facilitate safe and productive conversations, during which you and your spouse practice healthy communication to achieve a deep understanding of each other’s needs and desires.

Upon completion, you and your spouse will have an agreement that will help you move forward with trust and accountability.

About a month after your last session, we will meet one more time for an accountability check-in.

The work you’ll do

For the time we are working together, both you and your spouse must commit to prioritizing your relationship and this experience.

Pricing

Divorce Mediation Services

$2500 flat rate for a quickie divorce for couples married under 5 years with no shared assets, no minor children, and no conflict

$4700 flat rate for couples with shared assets and no minor children

$6500 flat rate for couples with shared assets and minor children

$8900 flat rate for couples with shared assets over $2 million and/or minor children

$425 per hour for divorce mediation services or divorce coaching

Flat rate covers first 3 months of service. Additional service can be billed at an hourly rate of $425 or by signing up for another three months of service. Most couples finish by three months.

Please also note: I provide mediation services only. At the end of your process, I will introduce you to a neutral drafting attorney who will translate your agreement into legalese. Her fee is separate. Depending on the way your agreement shakes out, you may also need to hire a QDRO specialist or a CDFA to divide retirement assets. (Some CDFAs will provide QDRO services free of charge if you invest with them.) 

To ensure that mediation services are available to people of all income levels, a sliding scale is available for families that qualify.

Discernment Coaching

$2500 flat rate

Four 2.5-hour sessions over 4-8 weeks

Marital Mediation

$2900 flat rate

Intake review, four 2.5-hour sessions over 4 weeks, one 30-minute accountability call

Why My Flat Fees Work Well for You and for Me

When you hire a mediator or attorney on an hourly basis, you will be charged for every email exchanged, phone call made, form filed, session cancelled. My intention in tossing out the hourly standard is that you will call or text or email whenever you need me; that you will not fill out your own forms to save money; that you will know exactly what you’re in for from the start. A flat fee feels less stressful.

I don’t compare my fees other mediators’ fees because the service I provide is unique to my practice. While I am not a therapist, sessions often feel therapeutic for my clients. I have good juju. I am really good at creating safe and comfortable space for you and your spouse to move through this difficult time.

This fee structure eases the pressure that may occur working with billable hours and allows you the time to make the best decisions you can—even when you’re not feeling or behaving your best. You have one shot at this divorce, so if you need a little extra time, I want you to take it without worrying about the extra cost.

If you are eligible, I offer a sliding scale to my flat fee or we can move to an hourly rate. Please send me an email and we’ll work it out.

Agreement to Participate

We are requesting mediation services from Vanessa Linsey, and understand and agree to the following terms:

  • We are the decision makers in this process and the mediator cannot impose any decisions regarding the disputed issues.

  • Mediator services shall not be construed as legal advice, financial advice, therapy or any professional service other than mediation. Either of us may seek expert advice at any time during the mediation. The mediator has advised each of us to have separate, independent counsel review any agreement before we sign it.

  • Mediation is a voluntary process. The mediator or we may choose to end the process at any time.

  • If requested, we must disclose all of our financial worth, assets and liabilities during the mediation process. We each accept full responsibility for the reasonable accuracy of the figures disclosed and understand that agreements reached will be based in part on these figures.

  • We understand that mediation is a confidential process under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 233, Section 23C and that Vanessa and her professional team will keep the details of our case and all related documents confidential. However, we understand the mediator reserves the right to disclose suspected abuse and/or crime to the proper authorities.

  • The mediator can set forth any agreement reached in mediation in a Memorandum of Understanding, Separation Agreement or other written document upon our request.

Fee Agreement

We, the below signed parties, understand and agree to the following:

Hourly Fee

  • We will pay the agreed hourly fee entered below.

  • We understand that we may be asked to pay in advance of a session to ensure accounts are up to date.

  • We agree that previous session and drafting work must be paid for in full before booking subsequent sessions and that work on a case may be halted if invoices remain unpaid.

Flat Fee

  • We will pay a non‐refundable fee indicated in the drop down menu below at the time we schedule our first mediation session.

  • We will pay the balance before receiving a Memorandum of Understanding

  • The flat fee includes:
    a. Up to 10 hours of divorce mediation sessions over three months;
    b. The drafting of the Memorandum of Understanding;
    c. Phone calls and emails with the Mediator.

  • The flat fee does not include:

    a. Legal drafting fees;

    b. QDRO drafting fees;

    c. Individual attorney fees;

    d. Any other professional fees required or desired by the client in order to confidently complete their petition for divorce.

  • We give permission for Vanessa Linsey to charge our credit card for mediation services as described above,
    unless we have paid by check.

  • If we need more than three months of services, from the date of the first session, we will pay $425 per hour for any additional time or sign on for another three months.