Four Questions to Ask When Shopping for a Mediator

If you’re interested in using mediation for your divorce, kudos! That’s the first step. The second step is picking your mediator. Whether you’re doing it privately or you’ve been court-ordered to mediation, you have the right to choose your mediator.

Here’s what to look for in a mediator when you’re shopping around:

1.       Registration. If you’re in Georgia, are they on the GODR list? You can look this up here. If they are, it means they’ve completed an approved training, they keep up with continuing education units and have clear background checks. If they aren’t on the list, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t have the above under their belt and aren’t a fine mediator. It just means you’ll have to ask more questions if you want to know these qualifications.

2.       Training. What kind of training did they receive and when? Ideally, they would have had at least 40 hours of training with a practicum to follow and if they mediate family cases then they also should have completed the domestic violence training. If they completed their training recently, then they probably don’t have much experience. If they trained many years ago, it sill doesn’t mean they have experience. You must ask. With mediation, as everything, experience is key.

3.       Quantity. How many cases have they ever mediated or how many do they average each year. There is a difference in a mediator who does it occasionally and one who makes it their full-time job. Most people don’t keep track so carefully that they’ll be able to say an exact number. But an honest approximation will give you an idea of their expertise.

4.       Pricing. Just because a mediator charges $300 (or more) per hour does not mean they have the experience to back it up. Some of the best in town keep their rates at $150 or $250 under the theory that they don’t want to scare people away from what is an incredibly valuable process. It’s still a lot of money, I realize, but it is what you should expect for a private mediation rate. Ask them their flat fee or hourly rate and if they charge for agreement writing or any other necessary services. Also ask about their cancellation policy as emergencies do happen and it’s good to know what you’re in for just in case.

Bottom line, the amount of experience really shows in this line of work so make sure you ask the right questions.

I would love for you to ask me these questions! Schedule a chat here.