Your Questions. Answered Honestly.
Choosing mediation is a big decision and you deserve clear, straightforward answers before you take the next step. Browse the sections below or jump directly to what matters most to you.
Jump to: Understanding Mediation| The Process | Legal Questions | Costs & Fees | Safety & Fairness
Understanding Mediation
-
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process where a neutral third party helps disputing parties reach a mutually agreeable resolution — without going to court. Unlike a judge, a mediator doesn't decide your future. You do. The mediator guides the conversation, interrupts negative patterns, and helps both parties find the path forward together.
-
In court, a judge who doesn't know your name decides the outcome. In mediation, you retain the power. You stay in control of the decisions, the pace, and the result. Mediation is also significantly faster, less expensive, and far less emotionally exhausting than a trial.
-
If you want to save time, money, and emotional energy — and you want to be the one making decisions rather than a judge — mediation is likely right for you. It works best for anyone ready to reach an agreeable resolution and willing to stay at the table to find it.
-
Mediation requires a baseline of safety and a genuine willingness to negotiate. It is generally not appropriate in cases of active domestic violence, significant power imbalances where one party is unable to advocate for themselves, or when one party is acting in bad faith.
-
Yes. Mediation is a voluntary process. While a court can order parties to attend, a resolution only happens if both sides are willing to stay at the table and work toward common ground.
-
Yes. By stepping out of the adversarial courtroom and into a private office, the dynamic shifts entirely. We focus on interests rather than insults, moving at a pace that respects your nervous system and your goals.
The Process
-
We begin by identifying the core issues and what matters most to each of you. Using NLP techniques and legal expertise, we strip away the noise of the conflict and focus on building the Third Way forward. We work through the necessary issues until we find a path that leads to a binding agreement — one that both parties can live with and the Court will approve.
-
Most family or property disputes can be resolved in a single half-day or full-day session. This is significantly faster than the months or years a court case can take.
-
We prefer in-person sessions at our 903 S Main office to take advantage of the neutral, grounding environment we've built. However we do offer virtual sessions via Zoom for parties with geographic or scheduling constraints.
-
Not necessarily. While joint sessions can be productive, we often utilize shuttle mediation — where parties sit in separate private rooms and I move between them. Your comfort and safety are the priority.
-
I am a neutral third party. I don't represent either side — I represent the resolution. I facilitate the conversation, interrupt negative patterns, and use my legal and real estate expertise to help you see options you might have missed. In mediation, the pen stays in your hand. I help you reach the decision — but you make it.
-
No. That is the beauty of the process. In court, a judge decides your future. In mediation, you retain the power. I help you reach the decision but the pen stays in your hand.
Legal Questions
-
Yes. Once both parties reach an agreement and sign the Settlement Agreement, it is submitted to the Court for approval. Once approved it carries the full weight of a court order and is built to stand over time.
-
Absolutely. Under Indiana Rules for Alternative Dispute Resolution, almost everything said in mediation is confidential and cannot be used as evidence in court later. This allows both parties to speak freely, explore creative solutions, and be honest without fear that their words will be used against them.
-
Absolutely. Choosing mediation does not sign away your right to go to court. If we cannot reach an agreement you are free to proceed with traditional litigation. That is why our motto is Mediate before you Litigate — you have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
-
No. While you are always welcome to have counsel present, mediation is designed to be a pro-se-friendly environment where you have the agency to speak for yourself. We always encourage parties to have their individual legal counsel review the final agreement before signing to ensure their personal interests are fully protected.
-
Yes. Attorneys are welcome to attend and participate in mediation sessions alongside their clients.
-
Yes. Family law is one of our specialties. When the divorce, child custody, child support, and division of property and assets are all agreed upon between the spouses, the Settlement Agreement is submitted to the Court which will then issue a Dissolution Decree.
Costs & Fees
-
Mediation is typically billed at an hourly rate. Compared to the thousands — or tens of thousands — spent on a traditional trial, it is the most cost-effective way to resolve a legal dispute. You pay for the time it takes to reach an agreement, not for months of discovery, courtroom appearances, and attorney billing cycles.
-
Most family or property disputes can be resolved in a single half-day or full-day session. A trial can take months or years and cost significantly more in legal fees, lost time, and emotional exhaustion. Mediation gives you a faster, fairer, and far less expensive path to a final signature.
-
Unless agreed otherwise, mediation fees are usually split 50/50 between the parties. This reinforces neutrality — I am working for both of you equally, and the fee structure reflects that.
Safety & Fairness
-
My role is to hold the space. I ensure that the more vocal party doesn't run the room and that the quieter party has the time and support to express their needs clearly. Every voice at the table deserves to be heard — and I make sure it is.
-
That is exactly why you need a mediator. You don't have to be good at communicating with each other right now — you only need to be willing to communicate through me. My NLP training allows me to hear what isn't being said and find the path forward even when direct communication has failed.
-
Most people come to mediation after everything else has failed. Our Triple-Threat approach — law, real estate, and NLP — often reveals a Pattern Interrupt that standard negotiations missed. If there is a Third Way forward, we will find it.
-
It is completely natural to feel anxious when the stakes are high. Think of mediation not as a confrontation but as a guided conversation. We provide a neutral, safe environment at 903 S Main Street specifically designed to lower the temperature in the room so you can think clearly and speak honestly.
-
I use specific NLP techniques to ensure neither party dominates the dialogue. I act as a leveler — ensuring both voices are heard and that the information being discussed is clear and transparent. Radical Neutrality isn't just a value here. It is the practice.
-
By practicing Radical Neutrality. I listen for the need behind the anger. When people feel truly heard — not just listened to but understood — the path to a signature becomes much clearer. I don't take sides. I take steps forward.
You've taken the first step by being here
Still Have Questions?
Reach out directly and I'll personally respond within 24 business hours — quietly, confidentially, and without pressure.