Mediation Withdrawal

Withdrawal before Initial Session

• If a client withdraws from mediation before the initial mediation session begins, a full refund of any mediation fees paid will be issued, minus any administrative, processing, or court filing fees incurred, if any.

  If the Mediator has already prepared or filed a Petition for Dissolution or Legal Separation, coordinated service of process, filed a Proof of Service, coordinated or reviewed financial disclosures, or otherwise performed substantive case preparation so that the case is formally opened or actively in progress, the refund will be reduced by a $1,000 administrative and case-opening fee to cover preparation, filing coordination, financial disclosure coordination, and related administrative work.

Withdrawal During or After the First or Second Mediation Session

• If either party elects to withdraw from mediation, or if the Mediator withdraws pursuant to the terms of the Mediation Agreement, during or after the first or second mediation session, the refund is calculated as follows:

  • After the first mediation session: the client is eligible for a refund of up to fifty percent (50%) of the mediation fees paid.

    After the second mediation session: the client is eligible for a refund of up to twenty-five percent (25%) of the mediation fees paid.

  The client will receive the full fifty percent (50%) or twenty-five percent (25%) refund unless the value of the Mediator’s professional services already performed outside of scheduled mediation sessions, calculated at the Mediator’s standard hourly rate, exceeds that amount, in which case the refund will be reduced accordingly. Unused mediation fees are calculated after deducting hourly work for court filings, service coordination, review of financial disclosures and supporting documents, preparation of asset and debt allocation spreadsheets, child and spousal support calculations, and case-related communications such as emails and phone calls, as well as any administrative or court filing fees incurred.

  In no event will a refund include compensation for professional services already performed.

Withdrawal During or After Three (3) Mediation Sessions

• If either party elects to withdraw from mediation, or if the Mediator withdraws pursuant to the terms of the Mediation Agreement, after the third mediation session has commenced, no refund of mediation fees shall be issued.

Early Settlement

If the parties in mediation reach a mutually agreeable settlement before utilizing all scheduled mediation sessions, no refund of mediation fees will be provided. This policy applies regardless of the number of sessions remaining or the reason for early settlement. We encourage early resolution of disputes and recognize the value that comes with reaching a settlement efficiently. While there may not be a refund for unused sessions, the benefits of a timely resolution often outweigh any considerations for reimbursement.

Non-Refundable Fees

Certain fees are non-refundable, including but not limited to:

• Court filing fees

• Service of process fees

• Administrative and case-opening fees

• Third-party vendor costs

• Professional services performed outside of scheduled mediation sessions

These fees are incurred immediately and cannot be recovered once services have been initiated.

Request for Refund

Clients must submit a written request for a refund. Refund requests will be processed within a reasonable time frame, typically within 7 days of receipt of the request.

Modification of Refund Policy

The Mediator reserves the right to modify the refund policy at any time with prior notice, to address changes in circumstances or to comply with legal requirements.