Compass Mediation Services Fee Policy
Effective April 2025
Our current fee structure as of the date listed above includes the following:
Initial Consultation: 20-30 minute FREE consultation with both parties to determine if my services will be a good fit for your situation.
Administrative Fee: $400 per couple (or $200 per person). This fee is due at the time of the first mediation session and is non-refundable.
Mediation Fee: $500 per couple, per hour (or $250 per person, per hour). An invoice will be issued to each couple (or person) at the conclusion of every session, and must be paid by the start of the following session.
Separation Agreement: $800 per couple (or $400 per person). This fee is only applicable if the parties choose to have CMS draw up a separation agreement after the final mediation session.
This fee covers the initial draft and review of a standard separation agreement, and must be paid in full in order for drafting to begin. Any meetings that are needed to review and work through any revisions shall be billed at the current hourly rate of $500.
For Separation Agreements, Compass Mediation Services shall provide complimentary copies of the agreements, as well as notarization services. We will also cover the $5.00 cost associated with filing the Separation Agreement with the County Clerk’s Office, unless the parties opt to further proceed in filing an Uncontested Divorce, in which case all paperwork will be e-filed through the NYS Court’s website.
If, in the course of drafting the separation agreement, there are complex matters at hand (such as financial division of assets), the Mediator may, at their discretion, charge additional fees as necessary in order to properly complete drafting of the agreement. While the Mediator will disclose any additional fees required to the parties, note that her decision on the necessity of these additional fees is final. Services shall not be rendered unless payment has been received.
APPOINTMENT CANCELLATION POLICY
There will be a $150 cancellation fee if our office does not receive at least 24 hours notice for a cancelled appointment (with the exception of an emergency situation for one or both of the parties).
UNCONTESTED DIVORCE SERVICES
Compass Mediation Services, in it’s capacity as a neutral third-party document preparer, can proceed with an Uncontested Divorce once a Separation Agreement has been signed. CMS can prepare the Uncontested Divorce paperwork with written consent on behalf of one of the parties (for standard Uncontested Divorce), or both of the parties (for a joint Uncontested Divorce). The fee for a standard Uncontested Divorce service is $950 (two payments of $475), while the fee for a joint Uncontested Divorce service is $1100 (two payments of $550). These fees are inclusive of document preparation services and necessary court filing fees. Costs associated with obtaining court orders for the division of retirement assets are not included in these fees (our office can be contacted for further information).
Please note that all document preparation services include: notary services, drafting, and reviewing drafts and any applicable family court orders or separation agreements / memorandums of understanding. If your case goes into a default status, an additional charge of $250 will be applied. (Note: A default status is not applicable when pursuing a joint uncontested divorce).
If a party or parties would like to pursue Uncontested Divorce service, but do not wish to receive mediation services first, then the above fees for uncontested divorce document preparation remain the same.