It is strongly advised that all mediated divorce documents and family agreements be reviewed by an attorney before filing.

What you need to know before you arrive at your mediation session: Manousso Mediation wants your divorce to be as civil as possible.  If you have children, you will always have a connection to each other, so helping you maintain a good working relationship is foremost to our philosophy in the outcome of the divorce process. 

Divorce means different things to each party.  There can be feelings of anger, relief, failure, religious shame, and fear of going it alone tomorrow.  All of these feelings might circle through you at different times or all at the same time.  All these feelings are natural, even in the friendliest divorces.  Some parties may never experience any troublesome feelings, but, then, everyone processes events differently.   As your mediator, we are not here to judge you or to take sides.  Our role is to be a third party neutral that offers, you, the parties, a safe and discreet venue to have a good conversation that supports the dissolution of your marriage, so that you can both move on to new lives. 

As a mediator, we do not act in the capacity of lawyers.  We will not offer you any legal advice.  If you feel that you need legal advice, please hire an attorney to answer any legal questions that you have.  Moreover, if you need financial advice, please hire a financial advisor or speak with your Certified Public Accountant. An excellent tool in working through your financial information is Divorce Savvy.  Bring this information with you to the mediation.

Items that can help you cut the cost of mediation.  Bring them with you to mediation:

IRS returns for the past 5 years

Pay stubs for the past three months

Current photos of your children

Insurance policies

Savings Account and Certificate of Deposit Statements

Pension plan explanations

Home mortgage materials

Home tax info from the Harris County Appraisal District

Any current info from current home appraisal or agents

Photos and info of items to be divided, such as boat, RV, vacation home, art, antiques, favorite couch, pets, etc...

Read the following forms. 
Copies will be given to you at the mediation to sign.

Get started on your financial information.
When divorce becomes unavoidable, use this unique interactive software to leave your marriage with your dignity intact and money in your pocket.   Don’t pay professionals for the preliminary work you can do.

Parties are always invited to bring their attorney to the mediation. 

Take a moment to look over the documents that you will sign at the mediation.

FAQ

What to expect at the mediation:  Our mediation venue is as comfortable and private as possible.  The beginning of the session will be in a parlor setting, and then when we need to work a little harder, we will move to the mediation table, where it will be easier to conduct the business at hand.  Our mediation space has a restful view of the bayou, his and her restrooms, and a small kitchen.  If you have a favorite food that you would like to eat, please bring it.  We will treat you to bottled water and snacks.

We want you to make good decisions that will be personal and in your best interest for the future.  Mediation gives you the opportunity for self-determination.  If you don't make decisions for your future, it will go to the Court for it to make decisions for you.   {Not good.}

Unlike some mediators, Manousso Mediation doesn't separate the parties (caucus) for the whole mediation.  We don't consider this a beneficial way to mediate.  Spouses should make decisions together in one room.  There might be an occasion for us to caucus in the mediation, but not for too long or, probably, not more than once.  Sometimes, we don't caucus at all.  It all depends on the progress of the mediation.

The length of time for mediations varies.  Our objective is to help you come to decisions as soon as comfortable.  The parties pace their own mediation.  On average, a divorce mediation with children takes about 6 hours, if the parties have thought through their concerns and have come prepared with proper papers.   Some parties, who have been in agreement, might work at the details in as few as three hours.  We like to mediate for no more than three to four hours at a time.  This gives everyone a chance to sleep on the discussion and think about the decisions on the table.

So how much does the mediation cost?  The cost for divorce mediation is $300 per hour with a three hour minimum.  Each party usually pays their half.  When the mediation continues beyond three hours, parties make another payment.  PayPal is the preferred method of payment, which must be paid 48 hours before the mediation is scheduled.  If a check is used, then the check must clear, before the mediation is convened, usually seven to ten days.

Example:  If the parties pay jointly, they will use Joint Payment, $900.
              If the Petitioner and Respondent each pay there own half, select from the drop down,
              Petitioner or Respondent rate of $450 each.

For a list of attorneys who will assist you with filing your mediated agreement for a set fee, click here.

It is strongly advised that all mediated divorce documents be reviewed by an attorney before filing.