Why Common Ground mediation is now divorceright.com
Why Common Ground mediation is now divorceright.com
Until Divorce Right started offering divorce services, all other divorce mediators and attorneys followed the traditional retainer model. This model requires an upfront amount ranging from $2,500 on the low end to $10,000 on the high end for more experienced attorneys.
Every phone call, email, text, or any time spent on your case is meticulously tracked, depleting the retainer. Once the retainer is exhausted, your attorney will require you to replenish the account, or they may stop working on your case.
After the divorce is finalized, the total bill often far exceeds the initial retainer. On average, the total cost is around $15,000 per person, resulting in $30,000 per divorce. Many clients are unaware of this, as attorneys often do not explain that the retainer is just the beginning. Clients are left to believe that the retainer will cover the total cost of the divorce service, only to be shocked later when additional payments are required to keep the case moving forward
We listened to our clients and learned that the unknown fear of how much a divorce will cost is one of the most stressful parts. In response, we spent the last 26 years developing a unique and personalized process that allows us to measure the complexity of each case before we even start. This enables us to make very accurate predictions about how long a divorce will take and how much it will cost. We were the first mediators in the country to offer flat fee divorce services.
While some cases have so much conflict and drama that we cannot risk offering a flat fee, most of our clients qualify for our flat fee program. The fee is determined after an online Divorce Complexity Assessment is completed. Then the mediator speaks with the couple and observes their behaviors in person. The flat fee varies depending on the complexity of the situation, but it is the total cost, not per person. This cost includes all document preparation and does not include extra charges for additional mediation time, phone calls, emails, or texts. You will not find an attorney who will even consider a flat fee.
If you are more comfortable paying an hourly fee, that option is also available. The hourly rate depends on the experience level of the mediator, typically ranging from $150 to $350 per hour. Additionally, document preparers and case managers involved in your case have a lower hourly fee of $100 per hour.
We also offer a “Flat Fee Guarantee” for those needing added peace of mind that mediation will work. If you follow our process and still cannot reach an agreement, we refund your money. It is that simple. To qualify for this program, you must inform the mediator that you are interested, and the mediator will determine if your case qualifies.
For an online estimate of how long your divorce will take and how much it will cost using attorneys compared to mediation, try our online divorce cost calculator.
The first step to getting your divorce completed is to provide us information using our free Divorce Cost Calculator which will help us to determine the level of conflict and the level of complexity you case has. Our mediation team will review your calculator results and contact you to schedule a consultation. This consultation can be either done in our office or with a video conference or over the phone. You're on your way to having your divorce completed in a matter of weeks and for a fraction of the cost of going to court but most importantly it will be fair. It will be done right.
“We’re here to minimize your stress. If you qualify for our flat fee option, you will have less stress because you won’t have to worry about an unknown total cost of the divorce. We changed how divorces were being done with our flat fee program 20 years ago. We are still the only mediation firm with a true flat fee option.”