What happens after the consultation if I want to move forward with mediation?

The mediator reaches out directly to the other party to confirm they're willing to participate, introduces herself, lets them explain their side, and walks them through the same process and cost information.

What Happens in Mediation? A Step-by-Step Guide

Q: What is the first step in the mediation process?

The process starts with a free consultation over Zoom, lasting about 30-45 minutes. During this call, you explain your situation and why you're considering mediation, and receive an explanation of the process along with a cost estimate, which is always followed up by email.

Q: What documents need to be signed before mediation sessions begin?

Once everyone agrees to move forward, an agreement to mediate, additional admin forms, and an invoice are sent. Sessions aren't scheduled until these documents are signed and the invoice is paid.

Q: What is a pre-mediation session?

A pre-mediation session is a private, one-on-one meeting with the mediator, typically lasting one to two hours. It's used to build trust, prepare each person for the joint session, understand their desired outcome, and brainstorm possible solutions.

Q: How long does a joint mediation session last?

Joint sessions are held over Zoom in four-hour blocks, including evenings and weekends at no additional cost. If more time is needed, it's split into separate sessions rather than one long session, since decision-making quality tends to drop after about four hours. Breaks and private one-on-one check-ins are available at any time, and breakout rooms can be used to work through an impasse.

Q: What happens after everyone signs the mediation agreement?

Once an agreement is reached, it's signed by everyone during the Zoom session. If the mediation is for a divorce, the signed agreement can be included when filing. If it's a business matter, the agreed-upon terms can be taken to an attorney to draft a formal operating agreement.

Oct 2

Written By Nikkita Torres

If you've never been through mediation before, it's natural to wonder what to actually expect. Here's exactly how the process works, from your first conversation with me through to a signed agreement.

Step 1: Schedule a Free Consultation

The process always starts with a free consultation. There's no cost to find out whether mediation is right for your situation. We meet over Zoom for about 30–45 minutes. During this call, you'll tell me what's going on and why you're considering mediation, and I'll walk you through how the process works and give you a cost estimate. I always follow up by email with that cost estimate in writing, so you have it to review on your own time.

Step 2: I Reach Out to the Other Party

Mediation only works if everyone involved is willing to participate, so the next step is confirming that. I'll ask you for the other party's contact information so I can reach out directly. When I do, I introduce myself, give them a chance to explain their side of why mediation is being considered, and walk them through the same process and cost information I covered with you. This way, everyone starts from the same understanding before we move forward.

Step 3: Agreements, Admin Forms, and Invoice

Once everyone is on board and ready to move forward, I send out an agreement to mediate, along with a few other administrative forms, and an invoice. We don't schedule any sessions until these documents are signed and the invoice is paid. This protects everyone's time and makes sure all parties are genuinely committed before we start.

Step 4: Pre-Mediation Sessions

Before anyone meets together, each person has an individual pre-mediation session with me, one-on-one. These usually run about one to two hours. This is where I get to know you better, build trust, and prepare you for what the joint session will be like. We'll talk through what outcome you're hoping for and why, and we'll start brainstorming possible solutions so you're walking into the joint session already thinking constructively, not cold.

Step 5: The Joint Mediation Session

Once everyone has completed their pre-mediation session, we schedule the joint session, the part where everyone meets together, with me facilitating. Everything is done over Zoom, and I try to be as flexible as possible with schedules, including evenings and weekends at no additional cost.

Joint sessions typically run in four-hour blocks. If a situation genuinely needs more time (say, eight hours' worth of conversation) I split it into two separate sessions rather than pushing through in one sitting. In my experience, people start running out of emotional and mental bandwidth around the four-hour mark, and decisions made from exhaustion aren't decisions people actually stand behind later. Splitting the time protects the quality of the agreement, not just the comfort of the people in the room.

During the joint session, you're never locked in. You can ask for a break at any time, and you can ask to speak with me one-on-one whenever you need to. If the conversation starts going in circles or tempers start running high, I can move each person into their own private breakout room and go back and forth between you to work through the sticking point individually, before bringing everyone back together once we're closer to common ground.

As agreements are reached, even small ones, I type them out in real time into the Memorandum of Understanding (or the parenting plan, if the mediation involves custody) so nothing gets lost or misremembered later.

Step 6: Signing the Agreement

Once everyone has reached an agreement, you'll sign it together, still on the Zoom call. At that point, you're done.

What happens next depends on what you came in for. If you're finalizing a divorce, you can include the signed agreement when you file. If it's a business matter, like a partnership dispute, you can take the agreed-upon terms to an attorney to have a formal operating agreement drafted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first step in the mediation process? It starts with a free, 30–45 minute consultation over Zoom, where you explain your situation and receive a cost estimate by email afterward.

What happens after the consultation if I want to move forward? I reach out to the other party directly, introduce myself, let them share their side, and walk them through the same process and cost information.

What documents need to be signed before mediation sessions begin? An agreement to mediate, a few admin forms, and an invoice — sessions aren't scheduled until these are signed and the invoice is paid.

What is a pre-mediation session? A private, one-on-one meeting (about one to two hours) to build trust, prepare you for the joint session, and brainstorm possible solutions.

How long does a joint mediation session last? Joint sessions run in four-hour blocks over Zoom, including evenings and weekends at no extra cost. Longer situations are split into separate sessions rather than one long one, since decision-making quality tends to drop after about four hours.

What happens after everyone signs the mediation agreement? It's signed by everyone on the Zoom call. From there, it can be included when filing for divorce, or taken to an attorney to draft a formal operating agreement for business matters.

Ready to Get Started?

If you're dealing with a dispute and wondering whether mediation could help, the first step is simple: schedule your free consultation. There's no obligation, no cost, and no pressure. Just a conversation about your situation and what your options look like.