When choosing a mediator, your attorney can give you guidance and direction on mediators he or she has worked with in the past. As with anything else you are “purchasing,” you need to do your research. Contact several mediators and ask questions about the services provided and the fees charged for those services. Ask direct questions and expect direct answers in return.

However, you must also remember that experience counts and experience tends to cost more. This is where your attorney can be a valuable asset in choosing a mediator. Your attorney knows the mediators in your area, their reputation, and their fees. In most cases, you can find a meditator who has a good reputation for a fee that is within your budget with the help of your family court attorney.

It is impossible to say exactly how much your divorce mediation will cost, as each mediator sets his or her own fees and sets how those fees are to be paid. In most cases, mediators will ask that each spouse pay one-half of their fee. The parties can agree to a different arrangement, such as 60-40 or one spouse pays the entire fee. If the parties cannot agree on how to pay the fee, either spouse can petition the court requesting an order forcing the other spouse to pay the mediator’s fee or a portion of it.

Some mediators require the parties to pay the entire estimated fee before sessions or other services begin. If the mediation does not take as many hours as the mediator estimated, a refund will be issued at the end of the service. If more hours are required, the mediator will inform the parties how he or she expects the fees to be paid. Typically, mediators charge fees based on an hourly rate (i.e. $250-300 per hour or more depending on the mediator’s experience, education, skill, and reputation).

Although an exact price cannot be specified, it is important to note that mediation can be a great alternative to litigation in a divorce case and it can save you a significant amount of money.