Divorce Mediation
I am going through a divorce and we have reached out to Larry Rosen for mediation. He seems to have very high mediation fees but very good reviews. He also allows us to discuss what we are willing to pay him per hour. Does anyone have any recent experience with the mediation process? typical cost per hour? Or any recent experience with Larry?
Aug 13, 2020
Parent Replies
I didn't use Larry Rosen, but went through a lengthy mediation process recently over child custody. Lawyer mediators tend to cost more because, well, lawyers. But some psychologist/therapist mediators also charge about as much (the one I used charged $350/hr), especially if connected to the courts, eg as a Child Custody Recommending Counselor. Depending on the personalities involved in the marriage/divorce, it's really important to find someone who can remain truly neutral, and focused on negotiating the settlement.
Therapist mediators might charge less but the process can also take a lot longer. For my part, we wasted thousands of dollars in therapy- and communication-oriented mediation sessions that stirred up acrimony. The real work -- negotiating agreements to submit to court -- happened in a few focused sessions.
In short, calculate the cost based on time x hourly rate, not just the hourly rate.