Navigate Your Divorce with Ease
and KEEP YOUR MONEY!
Divorce doesn't have to be a battleground that drains you emotionally and financially.
I can make your divorce journey smoother and more affordable.
With expert mediation and support, you can find harmony amidst the chaos of divorce.
AND...
Your Partner in
Peaceful Divorce
$$$ Save your money! $$$
I can help you work out your settlement agreement together for less than the cost of just the retainer fee alone for only one of the two attorneys you'll otherwise pay!
Let's go through this process together with compassion, class and understanding.
* Not currently working on divorces involving minor children.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is The Divorce Mediator?
Hi. My name is Alison Stein. I live in a suburb outside of Atlanta, GA. I've been divorced for five years after being married for 25 years. We share two grown sons.
When my ex-husband and I decided to divorce, we each interviewed a few attorneys. Right before we hired any, we realized it would be wiser and cheaper for us to try to work out our own settlement agreement as opposed to using a lot of our savings to pay attorneys, leaving much less for us to split. Regardless of the state of our relationship, he knew I had always been a level-headed and fair negotiator, so he had confidence in my ability to guide us through the process.
There were several times when things almost got ugly, but I was able to keep us on track, calm, rational and fair. To this day we are on much better terms than we would likely have ended up on after fighting through attorneys who often, inadvertently, intensify the negativity. Our kids have greatly benefited from us taking this path, during that time and from then on, and they respect us both for the mature way we handled this tense time and situation. We’re also pretty proud of ourselves.
I eventually recognized the value of my skills and decided to offer this service to other couples so that they, too, can save the majority the money they will otherwise end up spending on two sets of attorneys’ fees, and instead keep their money to split amongst themselves, while also minimizing any further deterioration of their relationship and character.
2. Why use The Divorce Mediator?
Many people file for uncontested divorces after working out their own settlement. But some couples believe they're past the point of working together, so they take the only other approach they know of, and that is to spend a lot of money battling through attorneys.
There’s another option which doesn’t require very much money at all. Regardless of the condition of your relationship at this point, I can help you work out your own agreement that you’re both comfortable with, and then you can file for an inexpensive, uncontested divorce.
Besides keeping much more of your money for yourselves, another benefit is that you’ll both feel proud of yourselves for working through this together maturely. That honorable, proud feeling will stay with you for the rest of your lives, as opposed to the lingering, dishonorable memory of an unnecessary, immature, and ugly battle - only to end up with the same type of settlement anyway.
Not only will you both feel better about how you worked this out amongst yourselves, but by the two of you taking the calmer, more level-headed approach to this process, your children and other people in your lives will have more respect for both of you and see you as good examples of mature people.
3. What does The Divorce Mediator actually do?
As a competent, neutral third party, I act as a mediator and help both parties negotiate a fair and equitable divorce settlement that you both ultimately agree upon.
I host zoom meetings that either you both attend or you each attend individually, depending on your situation and preference. In these meetings, we discuss the best way to divide up your assets and liabilities, as well as the reasonable timeframes to execute the transfers and the miscellaneous parts of the agreement.
Once we reach the settlement you both agree on, I'll write it up and supply you both with a copy of it.
4. What does using The Divorce Mediator entail?
I offer an initial FREE 15-minute consultation. This can be with both of you together or I can meet with each of you individually for 15 minutes.
Once you decide to use my services:
A. Our first official meeting(s) can either be a joint meeting with myself and both of you for 1 hour, or individual meetings with myself and each one of you for ½ hour per person.
In the first meeting(s), I'll get to know you both and collect some information about your marriage, the roles you each had, and an overview of the assets and liabilities you accumulated during your marriage. I’ll also listen to anything else applicable that you think I should know and are comfortable sharing in that meeting.
B. At the end of the first meeting(s), I'll email you both the same set of forms that will guide you through the process of listing a more detailed version of your assets and liabilities. You email them back to me upon completion. No account numbers or other personally identifying information is given to me. That’s not safe or necessary.
C. If the first meeting was joint, the next meetings will be individual (myself and each party alone). These meetings can be either 30 minutes or an hour – your choice.
In these meetings, I will listen to each person’s point of view on any topics they would like to discuss. Whatever is discussed in these private meetings stays private unless permission is given for me to share any particular parts of it. These meetings help me better understand where each person is coming from, what they think is fair and why.
D. The following meetings are normally joint meetings, but we can continue private meetings if so desired.
5. How much does it cost to use The Divorce Mediator?
Much less than what you will pay two attorneys! That’s for sure!
More than likely, you'll pay less in total using The Divorce Mediator than you'll pay for just the initial retainer fee for only one of the two attorneys. And you’ll pay both attorneys separate retainer fees. And that’s just the retainer fee! The total you pay them will be much more!
Each of the attorneys fighting against one another on your behalf will charge you not only for all of the meetings and calls they have with you, but all of the calls they have with the other attorney (you both get charged for those calls by your respective attorneys), as well as charges from both attorneys for things like: the process of verifying the ownership and value of your assets, miscellaneous calls, any letters written, documents filed, time they spend evaluating and contemplating your situation, and so on – many things you won’t even be aware you’re being charged for until it’s too late and you’re in too deep to back out.
There are a few plans you can choose from to use The Divorce Mediator:
A. Per session: $250 for the first 1-hour joint appointment or $125 for the first 30-minute individual meetings each. Then $100 per 1-hour sessions, $50 per 30-minute sessions.
B. Package: $500 for the first 1-hour joint appointment or the first 2 individual 30-minute individual meetings each, + 2 (one each) individual 30-minute meetings, + 3 more 1-hour sessions.
C. Bundles: After the initial meeting(s) for $250 (1-hour joint or two, 30-minute individual) and the 2 (1 each) individual, private meetings for either 30 minutes at $50 or 1-hour at $100, additional meetings may be purchased in bundles of seven (7) 1-hour meetings for $500, or three (3) 1-hour meetings for $250, or per session (as above) at $100 per 1-hour meetings/$50 per 30-minute meetings.
D. Sessions purchased in “Packages” or “Bundles” are non-refundable if not used. However, any 1-hour meetings (whether purchased “Per Session,” in a “Package” or in a “Bundle”) that last less than 30 minutes will roll over a 30-minute credit toward the next meeting.
E. Any forms I supply you with, any time I spend outside of the meetings evaluating the information you provide on your forms, any time I spend outside of the meetings contemplating suggestions that may be helpful, and the written details of the finalized settlement that I supply you with once we're done, unlike attorneys’ fees, are all included free of charge as part of being a client of The Divorce Mediator.
6. What is the procedure using The Divorce Mediator?
A. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation. This can be with both of you for 30 minutes or I can meet with each of you individually for 15 minutes. Your choice.
I will listen to you explain your situation and answer any questions you may have about how the process will play out and, if applicable, how it can be tailored to fit your particular relationship status.
B. Choose your preferred plan from the options listed under the FAQ #5 “How much does it cost to use The Divorce Mediator?”.
C. We schedule and then conduct our first meeting(s). Future meetings can be scheduled at the end of the first meeting or anytime thereafter.
D. Once the final settlement arrangement has been agreed upon by both parties, I will write it up and supply you both with a copy of it including the pertinent details.
E. This last step is not a requirement, but I strongly recommend that you then pay a nominal fee to an attorney to formalize the agreement of your then uncontested divorce. You will pay this fee to the attorneys you hire anyway, but it’s just a very small portion of the entire amount you will pay them if you hire them to handle the negotiation process as well.
7. How are the meetings with The Divorce Mediator conducted?
The tone of the meetings is to be professional and respectful. This means:
A. No cursing or derogatory comments about the other person, The Divorce Mediator, the process, anyone’s family, friends or behaviors are permitted in the meetings.
B. All terms of the settlement agreement are open to ongoing renegotiation. Nothing is set in stone until it’s all been covered and agreed upon by both people. This means:
If you don’t like a proposed idea, you may or may not choose to express at that time that you might want to revisit that topic later. It is absolutely acceptable to do so, but it’s not necessary because either way, whatever it is will not be the final call on that topic unless, at the very end, you decide that you’re okay with it.
You’re welcome and encouraged to think of a better idea regarding whatever item it is, as well as an appealing way to present your proposed idea – either then or in a future meeting. If you have trouble thinking of a good counteroffer, don’t worry; stay calm. It may turn out that once we get further down the line to another asset or liability, you’ll see your opportunity to use that in your renegotiation of the earlier item.
C. If at any time during the negotiation process you would like to speak with me privately, you can contact me for a private session.
D. You can contact me for brief questions or comments free of charge via email, or for more urgent matters and responses, via the Voxer app, which you can download for free.
E. Keep in mind that if you have an attitude of giving and being gracious, you’ll likely encourage the other person to follow suit. Similarly, if you have an attitude of selfishness and rudeness, the other person will likely take that same tone. Regardless of your attitude during the negotiations, the end results will be what you both agree upon, which will be fair and equitable. However, consider that your tone during the negotiation process is a reflection of your character. We're all nice people when things are going well. How we behave in tense times is the real reflection of who we are. Just a thought to consider.
I look forward to helping you both keep the money you would otherwise spend on two attorneys so that you can split it between you, as well as helping you minimize any further deterioration of your relationship and character.
Schedule a free consultation and see what you think. No obligation.
You have nothing to lose by talking to me, and the potential to needlessly spend many thousands of dollars by not checking further into this option first.
Let’s talk. I promise you won’t regret it.
You’ll both be glad you took this route.
All the best.
Alison
Contact
Email: info@thedivorcemediator.us
I look forward to helping you both keep your money to split between you as opposed to lining the pockets of two attorneys, as well as helping you minimize any further deterioration of your relationship and character.
You’ll both be glad you took this route.
All the best.
Alison
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It’s simply an email to establish a connection with me and answer any questions you may have.