Frequently Asked Questions

It depends. We know those can be frustrating words to hear during a time of uncertainty, but the cost of mediation depends on the circumstances of each case.
Rita and Deanna charge on an hourly basis, so your total cost is directly related to the amount of time spent on your case. This can depend on the number of decisions that need to be made and the level of conflict surrounding those decisions. Generally, the more discussion required to reach an agreement, the more fees are incurred.
Although we cannot provide a cost estimate without first learning more about your situation, mediation is a transparent process. You'll understand how fees are being incurred and can make informed decisions about which issues are worth spending additional time pursuing.
You will also receive regular invoices detailing your charges.

The timeline depends on the number of decisions that need to be made, the people involved in making those decisions, and everyone's scheduling flexibility.
Family Forward Mediation moves at the pace that works for your unique family system, balancing efficiency with the time needed to make thoughtful decisions.

You are not legally required to retain attorneys, but we highly recommend doing so.
As mediators, we are neutral and do not represent either party. Although Rita can provide legal information based on her training and experience as an attorney, the mediators are not acting as your legal advocates and cannot provide individual legal advice.
Because you ultimately want the agreements reached during mediation to be legally binding, it is important to be fully informed before finalizing them.
Retaining attorneys for the limited purpose of advising you and reviewing the agreements you and your co-parent develop through mediation can provide that individual legal guidance, often at a reduced cost compared with litigation.

Money and children are often two of the biggest concerns families face during divorce.
A divorce ultimately involves two legal documents: a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA), which addresses financial matters, and a Parental Allocation Judgment (PAJ), which addresses parenting matters involving minor children.
Family Forward Mediation brings together Rita's expertise in legal and financial matters and Deanna's expertise in psychology, child development, and parenting issues. This combination gives families professional guidance across the different decisions they need to make for their future.
Joint sessions can also help preserve, maintain, or develop a functional co-parenting relationship by modeling productive communication and helping couples build those skills when conflict makes communication difficult.

Not necessarily.
Family Forward Mediation is designed to provide legal and psychological expertise efficiently.
When a particular discussion benefits from both perspectives, Deanna and Rita may both participate in the mediation session, with a discounted rate applied to those joint sessions.
At other times, clients may work with only the mediator whose expertise is most relevant to the issue being discussed. In those cases, that mediator charges her individual rate.
Rather than paying multiple professionals for potentially overlapping work, the co-mediation team works together to help ensure you're paying for the professional expertise needed to address each issue.

Sometimes, but only when it is appropriate for your family.
Family Forward Mediation believes in bringing a child's voice into the process without placing the child in the middle of the divorce.
Occasionally, this may involve meeting with your child or children or speaking with important providers, such as therapists. It always involves understanding each parent's goals and concerns regarding their children.
As an experienced child and adolescent psychologist, Deanna works with families to determine the best way to understand and address children's needs and make sure their voices are heard.

If you are going through a divorce, you will still need to go to court so that a judge can grant the divorce.
For other types of family disputes, whether court involvement is necessary is something you should discuss with your attorney.

The first step is a complimentary informational phone call with Rita and/or Deanna to determine whether the Family Forward Mediation process may be a good fit for your family.
You can complete our Contact form or call:
Deanna: 312-493-2628
Rita: 847-868-9532