You don't need to be perfectly amicable, but you should be committed to fair resolution and willing to have open financial discussions together. Some tension is normal - we help facilitate productive conversations even when emotions are involved.
Full disclosure is essential for this process to work. If significant assets are discovered that weren't disclosed, the case would need to proceed through the traditional legal process to resolve. Clearwater Financial Mediation™ is designed for amicable couples who might otherwise choose mediation - those committed to honest, fair resolution.
Most cases are completed within 4-8 weeks, depending on the complexity of your assets and how quickly you can gather financial information. The actual mediation sessions (2-3 meetings) typically occur over 2-3 weeks.
Our fees are significantly lower than attorney-led negotiations, which often cost $15,000-$40,000+ per person. We provide transparent, flat-fee pricing discussed during your initial consultation, with no billable hour surprises.
We can assist couples with minor children, but in those cases, we recommend working with a child-specialist mediator to address parenting plans and custody arrangements. We focus on the financial aspects (child support calculations, asset division) while the child specialist handles parenting-related decisions.
As neutrals, we work for both parties' best interests, but it's advised to have a legal advocate review the agreement on your behalf for any final edits. This ensures no unintended favoritism or mistakes make their way into the final agreement. Each spouse should have their own attorney review to protect their individual interests - this is standard practice with any mediation.
No. The mediation process is collaborative, and we can revise proposals until you're both satisfied. The final agreement only becomes binding after attorney review and your approval.
While most couples successfully complete the process, if you reach an impasse, you can always return to traditional legal channels. The work we've completed will still be valuable for your attorneys.