To get a head start preparing for divorce mediation, here’s a divorce mediation checklist of documents to begin gathering:

• Tax Returns (Federal & State)
• Pay Stubs
• W-2’s and/or 1099’s
• Partnerships & Other Business Interests Valuation
• Real Estate Property Valuation
• Vehicles, Boats, Trailers Valuation
• Savings, Checking, Money Market and CD Accounts
• Non-Retirement Investments such as Stocks, Bonds, Secured Notes, Mutual Funds
• Executive Compensation – Stock Options, RSUs or Other Executive Comp
• Retirement Accounts and Pensions
• Annuities, IRAs, Deferred Compensation
• Life Insurance (Whole Life Policies)
• Jewelry, Antiques, Art, Coin Collections, or Other Property with significant value
• Accounts Receivable & Unsecured Notes
• Real Estate Loans
• Credit Cards and Revolving Credit
• Other Loans and Debts
• Depending on the state you live in, homeowner insurance policy information, auto insurance information, health insurance information, and other information may also be needed

1. Agree to mediate, arrive prepared to hear what the other party has to say and have a meaningful conversation.
2. Make a list to ensure the meeting is productive and you cover everything including assets and possessions. You’ll also want to gather records of income sources and submit a financial affidavit that serves as a roadmap of the financial factors during mediation. 
3. Set goals, you’ll need to spend considerable time trying to determine what’s truly important to you, and what you can live without. Making lists here will help as well.
4. Think about your kids, you have to reach an agreement that finds a way to minimize the negative impacts on your children and co-parenting that supports and serves your kids’ best interests.

1. Mediation is much less expensive than a court trial or a series of hearings.
2. Most mediations end in a settlement of all of the issues in your divorce.
3. Mediation is confidential, with no public record of what goes on in your sessions.
4. Mediation allows you to arrive at a resolution based on your own ideas of what is fair in your situation, rather than having a solution imposed upon you based on rigid and impersonal legal principles.
5. You can still have a lawyer give you legal advice if you wish.
6. You and your spouse — not the court — can control the process.
7. The mediation process can improve communication between you and your spouse, helping you avoid future conflicts.

How long does Mediation take?

Every case is different, but the average case usually takes at least three to four two-hour mediation sessions, spread out over at least a month or two. More complex cases can take four to six months to complete.

Will we have to appear in court?

No court appearances are necessary by either party for mediation.

How do divorce court documents get filed?

At Tsang & Associates, we can assist the parties in filing all papers with the court, including starting the dissolution of marriage action, preparing and filing the necessary disclosure documents, and preparing the agreement, judgment, and final papers to be filed with the court.

Will the agreement be enforceable?

Once an agreement has been signed, that agreement is enforceable, however, usually, a judgment based on the agreement is prepared and filed with the court, and is just as enforceable as any other divorce judgment.