Through The Law Office of Jessica G. King, LLC, I draft and file paperwork to process the dissolution of your marriage. Sometimes, families have reached agreement on the majority of the terms of their divorce. In that case, I will represent one of the spouses (the other spouse may or may not hire a lawyer) to help negotiate the few remaining issues. I will then prepare and file paperwork to finalize the dissolution - again, while representing only one of the spouses. This approach is very affordable and economical.

No. Typically, we split the meetings along the issues. I prefer we meet for 1.5 hour sessions, each one dedicated to one issue (custody, property division, or support). Divorce mediation can be an emotionally taxing process, and we all need to be focused and fresh for the discussions.

My preference is that both parties attend if they are able. First, this reduces cost to you as it reduces the amount of time overall for the mediation process. Second, by communicating directly and through my facilitation, we will avoid misunderstandings and miscommunications. Both of you will be in the Zoom meeting, hearing what the other person has to say. If joint meetings are not possible, we will still make the mediation process work. This is your process. I will tailor it to your needs.

Yes. This is one of the primary benefits of mediation over litigation. Your family finances and issues will remain private and not be the subject of public court filings (though some general financial disclosures are required prior in your dissolution paperwork). Everything said in divorce mediation is confidential. For this reason, you can speak freely without worry that it will be used against you in court. There is no public record of what is said or what goes on during our sessions together.

At the conclusion of the mediation process, I will prepare a document memorializing all of the agreements reached during our sessions. Both parties will sign this Mediation Agreement. My goal is for this document to be as specific as possible so there are no gaps or ambiguities. Upon written, informed consent of all parties, I can then represent one party and prepare and file the legal documents with the court to process the dissolution.

Yes. All mediations are conducted by videoconference. This has actually been a great benefit to my clients as they can participate from the comfort of their home or other space. Technology allows me to share documents, meet separately with either party, and be just as efficient as I am for in-person meetings. I am available for in-person mediation upon request.

No. But you certainly can consult with a lawyer at any point during our work together.

We do require a retainer for our services. The amount of the retainer varies depending on the type of case. Our minimum retainer is $2,000.

In a divorce mediation where all issues are at play - custody, division of assets/liabilities, and support - the typical cost is approximately $3,500-$5,500 for my services. This includes mediating your case, preparing and filing your dissolution paperwork, and seeing your case through the final hearing. Please note, this is only an estimate. Many factors, including the complexity of the issues and the participation of the clients, influence how much time is required to work through the issues. My promise to you is that I will be extremely efficient in our work together and there will be no surprise costs.