Each spouse is given several questionnaires to complete. The information is used to assess the situation, draft initial paperwork, prepare financial disclosures and to start the settlement discussion.

When all parties are ready for the initial 2 hour session, both spouses meet with the Attorney Cotugno at the same time, either in-person, or online via Zoom video conference.

During the session, Michael facilitates the couple through difficult conversations with the goal of helping them reach mutual agreement on all aspects of their divorce. This includes guiding the participants through the identification of all relevant issues and all of their mandatory financial disclosure requirements.

Using his knowledge of the law, Michael also instructs participants on the fundamentals of the relevant legal issues, and provides creative options and settlement strategies.

After the session, a draft agreement is circulated until a final version is agreed upon. If additional mediation time is needed, the flat fee includes two 1 hour follow up sessions.

Most agreements can be reached in just one mediation session. Any additional finalizing details are handled via email, phone and mail, saving everyone time, money and stress.

Mediation offers couples the opportunity to discuss and negotiate all relevant family law issues privately and out-of-court including:

• Child Custody and Co-Parenting Plans
• Child Support
• Spousal Support (Alimony)
• Division of Marital Assets and Liabilities
• Expert Fees and Court Cost Allocation
• Any other issues deemed important and relevant

Court Filing Fees: Our flat fees do not include the court filing fees, paid directly to the court. Initial Pleading filing fees are $435 – $450 depending on county, plus electronic filing fees, which may range from $13-$25 depending on county.

Court Appearance Fees: Depending on your county, the court may automatically schedule status conferences when a case is opened. These hearings can usually be avoided or continued. The flat fee does include a continuance or appearance for the first status conference. For additional appearances, we charge a flat fee of $450 per court appearance.

QDRO Drafting & Filing Fees: If your settlement agreement requires the division of a retirement account, your plan may require a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). We offer QDRO preparation and filing for existing clients for flat fee of $1,200, or $1,500 if a Joinder is also required. QDRO court filing fees are typically $20 per QDRO (some courts charge more), paid directly to the court.

Additional Mediation Sessions: If your issues are (or become) more complicated and cannot be concluded within the 6 hours of mediation time included in the flat-rate, additional mediation sessions can be purchased “a la carte” as needed at $450 per 1 hour session.

No, it is not required when working with us, but parties do have the option and may choose to obtain legal, financial, and other professional advice at any time during the process.

We consider mediation to be an more economical process of dissolution, since both parties often share the expense of one mediator, and if needed, one or both parties may retain consulting attorneys for review or advice on a limited basis.

However, keep in mind that hiring an attorney to represent you can be very expensive, particularly if they are not settlement-oriented.

If you do choose to hire an attorney, it’s typically much more cost-effective to utilize them as a consultant who will provide you with personal legal advice, as opposed to having them represent you and “take your case” out of your control.

By choosing to work with us, you would be settling your divorce privately, out-of-court.  No court visits, no judges orders, no family law facilitator appointments.

This means you both can agree upon whatever terms you both decide are fair between the two of you and work on your own timeline, not the courts.

If in the future, situations change and you need to modify your agreement, we do assist with modification of judgments. If modifications are desired, but you don’t have an agreement worked out, we do encourage mediation as first the option before involving attorneys.

Of course, you don’t give up any of your rights by settling out of court. In other words,  you are not excluded from involving the court in the future if you need an order to enforce or modify your agreement.

We recognize that sometimes unforeseen issues arise during mediation that need to be resolved so the parties can avoid going to court.

If your issues are (or become) more complicated and cannot be concluded during the 6 hours of mediation time included in the flat-rate package, additional mediation sessions can be purchased “a la carte” as needed.

Additional mediation sessions are available at $450 per 1 hour session.

Well over 95% of our mediation cases are able to reach a final agreement.

In the rare instances where an agreement is not reached in mediation, the parties always have the option to pursue whatever legal remedies they desire within the court system.

Even if there is an issue of which the participants are unwilling to compromise, they still have the option to agree upon everything else, submit a judgment on all the issues except the one that they were unable to resolve, and leave that issue for determination by the court.

Contact us to schedule a free 20-30 minute consultation call with attorney/mediator Michael Cotugno to discuss your situation, answer your questions, and discuss your options.

We encourage couples to be on the call together, but can schedule individual calls if preferred.  We can also provide a conference call number to dial in if you both will be calling in from different locations.

For “Mediated” divorces, Michael does request speaking with both parties (together or separately) to ensure an understanding of the mediation process before proceeding.

Once you decide you’d like to move forward, we send you a fee agreement for signature, an invoice link, and initial questionnaire to complete.

After those are received, we send you a series of questionnaires that assist us in collecting information needed to draft the paperwork or prepare for the mediation session.