Costs and Fees

Hourly Rate
Sanns Mediation charges divorce and family mediation clients $250 per hour (total, typically split in half by the couple) for all hours expended on the client’s account.  This time typically includes all sessions, document review, memorandum preparation, correspondence, and telephone calls.  Payment is due at the end of each session.  I collect a $500 retainer payment at the start to cover finalizing activities following the last session.  Sessions are scheduled for 90 minutes unless otherwise agreed to in advance.

Fixed Rate
A fixed fee option is available for some divorcing couples and for post-judgment needs depending on circumstances.  Fixed fees are not refundable once the mediation starts.  Contact me to discuss.

Payment methods
Cash, check, and all major credit cards are accepted for payment.

Cancellations
If you fail to show up for your scheduled session, or you have not canceled your appointment at least 72 hours in advance, you will be required to pay for the cost of the session.

Anticipated Total Costs
Mediations are by and large far less expensive than a “traditionally” litigated divorce.  A mediated divorce generally costs $6-8,000 in total while a more traditionally litigated handled divorce can cost $15-25,000 and up, depending on the complexity of the case and how much each side wants to fight over dwindling assets and other items.  I typically earn $2,000-3,500 per mediation, with the balance of the expenses going for attorneys, the court, and experts.

In a mediated divorce, the parties are paying the mediator to assist the parties in coming to a settlement.  The costs in a mediated divorce also may include retaining review/advising attorneys, experts (like accountants, appraisers), filings, etc.  In a traditional divorce, both parties are each paying attorneys to go through all the information and prepare a “case” for their client.  This “case” usually does not result in a quick resolution, as the other party has a case too.

Where you save the money in mediating a divorce is in not paying two attorneys to work fully on your case.  The mediator works out all of the issues while the attorneys review the final document (the memorandum of understanding), create the property settlement agreement and make the filings with the court.

The costs paid to the mediator and any experts are generally shared equally between the spouses unless a different arrangement is made in advance.

Total anticipated costs will vary depending on the specifics of your situation.