<strong>How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost?</strong>

The cost of mediation depends on how much work you do to prepare for your sessions so that you are using your time wisely for the process of mediation. Sessions cost $250 per hour, with an additional $300 fee for the preparation of the Memorandum of Understanding. It's quite possible for clients who are organized and ready to negotiate to get through mediation in as few as 3 or 4 sessions. Parenting plans and spousal support each usually take at least one session. This is still less than the $2000 or $3000 retainer that most lawyers require to start a case.

Divorcing partners can reduce the number of mediation sessions they need by having their financial information organized.

Examples of this information would include:
<ul>
 	<li>financial affidavits</li>
 	<li>mortgage information</li>
 	<li>vehicles (owned, leased, financed)</li>
 	<li>values of investment accounts</li>
 	<li>banking information</li>
 	<li>properties owned</li>
 	<li>credit card debts</li>
</ul>
As the mediator, I will build the financial picture of your marital assets and liabilities along with the budgets that you each prepare through your financial affidavits. If you have concerns about issues of spousal support or child support, please know that these issues will be negotiated and resolved once the entire financial picture and individual needs are understood. The new guidelines for spousal support and child support take many factors into consideration and you can depend on the process of mediation to sort it all out.

<strong>Links for Illinois Dissolution of Marriage and Child Support Resources </strong>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=075000050K505" target="_blank">Illinois Child Support  </a></li>
 	<li><a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&amp;ChapterID=59&amp;SeqStart=6000000&amp;SeqEnd=8300000" target="_blank">Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/ChildSupport/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services: Child Support</a></li>
 	<li><a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k504.htm" target="_blank">Illinois Statute for Maintenance (Spousal Support/Alimony)</a></li>
 	<li><a href="http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved/divorce/financial_affidavit_suite_approved.pdf" target="_blank">Illinois Courts (Family and Divorce Cases) Financial Affidavit </a></li>
 	<li><a href="http://www.circuitclerkofwillcounty.com/Court-Forms" target="_blank">Will County Circuit Court Clerk Court Forms</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://www.dupageco.org/CourtClerk/CourtForms.aspx" target="_blank">DuPage County Circuit Court Forms </a></li>
</ul>
<strong>Links for Financial Advice (Diana provides this out of courtesy only and you may use any financial advisor you want)</strong>

<a href="https://www.edwardjones.com/financial-advisor/index.html?CIRN=Jhv3vHHtYnXpjSc9BvpaVHbadHpAJJ391a8entIeOGrwSv3LBr0ETqKe46kenr%2Fa" target="_blank">Seth Cooper – Edward Jones</a>

[author] [author_image timthumb='on']http://dianazilly.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/profile-pic-2015.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]by Diana Zilly, MS, MA, LCPC, NBCFCH. Diana is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Fellow in Clinical Hypnotherapy, and former Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Joliet Junior College. [/author_info] [/author]