Please follow the steps below to schedule your Mediation.
Please review this guide in full before scheduling your first mediation session. Most of the questions that you will have can be answered here. At the bottom of the guide, there are links to documents for you to print, fill out, and bring to your first mediation.
Thank you, and we look forward to working with you!
Mediation Scheduling
STEP ONE.
REVIEW MEDIATION CALENDAR FOR OPEN APPOINTMENTS. Mediation Session availability can be viewed on our Book Online page. When Mediation is court-ordered, it should be treated with the same level of importance as a court date. You will likely need to take off work and get a babysitter to accommodate Mediation. Mediations can be scheduled outside of the regular calendar in rare situations, but documentation of the need for an after-hours session will be required.
DO NOT BRING THIRD PARTIES to Mediation. Children will not be involved in mediation and should not be brought to the office. This applies to stepparents and significant others as well.
Step Two.
COORDINATE AVAILABLE DATES AND TIMES WITH YOUR CO-PARENT (OR OTHER PARTY). Unless you have an Order of Protection you are required by the Court to speak with the other party to schedule mediation. You can book the session online, or call the office to schedule. Do not book online until you have confirmed the date and time with the other party. Do not call the office until you have several dates and times that work for both parties and are available on Attorney Berger's calendar on the Book Online page.
If our staff has to make more than two phone calls, texts or emails to each party to coordinate scheduling, an additional $25.00 fee will be charged per additional communication.
Step Three.
CONFIRM APPOINTMENT. Once you have either booked online, or scheduled with the office, a staff member will confirm the appointment with both parties. Once both parties have confirmed the time and date, the appointment will be scheduled.
Step Four.
MAKE YOUR PAYMENT. The initial retainer for mediation is a total of $550.00. This is usually split equally by the parties, but the Judge will determine how the fee should be split. For private mediations, the cost is split unless the parties agree otherwise. The initial retainer pays for your first session (which is $250.00) and the preparation of the agreement and other court documents ($300.00) once mediation has concluded.
IF PAYMENT IS NOT RECIEVED WITHIN 24 HOURS PRIOR TO THE SCHEDULED SESSION, THE APPOINTMENT WILL BE CANCELLED. A staff member can send you a link to pay via credit card, or you can mail a check to PO Box 518, Byron, IL 61010. We also have a secure dropbox located outside the glass doors at the entrance to the building.
Step Five.
DOWNLOAD AND FILL-OUT DOCUMENTS. At the top of this page is a link to download the "Initial Mediation Packet" Please print these documents, fill them out, and bring them to your first session. If you can not download them, please call or email the office, and we will email or mail them to you.
