What Divorce Mediation Costs
Mediating your divorce costs a fraction of what a court case does: $2,700 to $5,400 for the two of you, compared with roughly $25,000 to $30,600 in court.
- 1,700+
- couples mediated
- 33 years
- in family law
- 98 Google reviews
- Costs 7x less
- than litigation
Divorce mediation packages
Court is where a divorce gets expensive, and you find out how much at the end. Mediation works the other way around: you know what to expect before we start, and you pay one fee as a couple rather than each of you paying separately.
For most couples the total comes to about $3,900, which covers mediation time at $375 an hour, usually around four hours, plus the set drafting fee in the rates below. The packages are illustrations of where different situations land; in your free consultation I will tell you what yours is likely to need.
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Uncontested Divorce Package
$2,700
Drafting
- Up to 1 hour meeting with client to identify terms of agreement already reached by the couple.
- Drafting and filing of Summons/Petition paperwork to commence case.
- Facilitate preparation and exchange of required disclosure documents.
- Drafting of Stipulated Judgment reflecting agreement of parties.
- Drafting of Judgment documents for processing of Judgment and agreement with the Court.
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Standard Divorce Mediation Package
$3,900
Traditional
- Up to Two 2-Hour Mediation Sessions with couple to reach agreement on issues in case.
- Drafting and filing of Summons/Petition paperwork to commence case.
- Facilitate preparation and exchange of required disclosure documents.
- Drafting of Marital Settlement Agreement or Stipulated Judgment. Minor edits to agreement after review.
- Drafting of Judgment documents for processing of Judgment and agreement with the Court
- Additional mediation time required would be charged at standard hourly rate.
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Advanced Divorce Mediation Package
$5,400
Complex
- Up to Four 2-Hour Mediation Sessions with couple to reach agreement on issues in case.
- Drafting and filing of Summons/Petition paperwork to commence case.
- Facilitate preparation and exchange of required disclosure documents.
- Drafting of Marital Settlement Agreement.
- Drafting of Judgment documents for processing of Judgment and agreement with the Court.
- Involvement of other professionals for valuation of business interests, other property, and income analysis. This would be at the option and cost of the client.
- Additional mediation time required would be charged at standard hourly rate.
*Court filing fees are not included (Additional $435 or $870 depending on how you proceed)
Not sure what you need?
Start your mediation and only pay the hourly rate of $375 at the end of each session. Once your case is resolved we will fit you into the package that fits your situation.
Standard mediation rates
- $375 an hour for Mediation time spent.
- $2,400 for time spent drafting documents to initiate case, memorialize settlement agreement, and to have Divorce Judgment entered with the Court.
Court filing fees are not included (Additional $435 or $870 depending on how you proceed).
What a litigated divorce costs by comparison
A California divorce handled through litigation costs somewhere around $25,000 to $30,600 for a couple, according to a 2019 Martindale-Nolo survey of Californians who divorced. That survey reports what each spouse spent, so the couple figure is the two sides added together.
Litigation costs that much because of how much professional time it takes. Two attorneys each prepare their own side of the case, respond to what the other side files, and work to a schedule the court sets, and every hour of it is billed. Mediation costs less because there is one professional instead of two, and far less process to pay for.
What couples say about working with me
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Barney at A Healthy Divorce made a difficult process feel smooth and fair. He's a thoughtful, balanced mediator who genuinely cares about both parties and keeps everything respectful and on track. Highly recommend.
Kevin V. -
Barney was terrific at helping us navigate an emotional and impossibly challenging situation. I'm grateful for his calm demeanor and kindness. I highly recommend him.
Aaron F. -
Barney was always quick to respond and very helpful. He was very patient during the process, and made the whole thing feel smooth and easy.
Ingrid C. -
Barney and his staff are compassionate, professional and very knowledgable. Highly recommended for anyone that wants to make the process of divorce better for all parties involved.
Debbie W. & Chris B.
Common questions about what it costs
Is the initial consultation free?
Yes. Thirty minutes, no charge, no obligation. You tell me what your situation looks like, I tell you how mediation would handle it, what it would cost, and roughly how long it would take.
What if our case needs more time than expected?
Mediation time is billed at $375 an hour, however much of it your case needs, and that is the same rate every package is built from. A case that takes two more hours than you expected costs exactly what it would have cost had you expected it, so there is no penalty for a case that grows.
Who pays for divorce mediation, and do we each pay separately?
The mediation fee is for the case, not per person, so there is one fee between you no matter how many sessions we have. How you split it is your decision. Some couples go halves, some split it in proportion to income, and sometimes one spouse pays the whole thing as part of the overall settlement. I do not have an opinion about which is right.
What is not included in the mediation fee?
Court filing fees, which go to the court and run $435 or $870. Any outside professional you decide to bring in, like a business appraiser or a real estate appraiser. Additional mediation time, at $375 an hour. That is the whole list.
Not sure if mediation is right for you?
6 Steps to Preparing for A Healthy Divorce
I wrote a short guide to help you work out whether divorce is the right step, weigh your options, and prepare for the best outcome.
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Next step
The first thirty minutes are free.
Bring your questions. I'll explain how the process works and give you an honest read on whether mediation fits your situation. There is no obligation.
across 98 Google reviews
More than 1,700 couples mediated.