About Me

Services are billed at an hourly rate of $350. These service can include evaluation, mediation, drafting, legal research, investigation, option generation, and others services defined in an agreement to mediate or in a signed engagement letter for limited assistance representation.

Initial Consultation: Mediation & Limited Assistance Representation

Our initial consultations for both Mediation and Limited Assistance Representation (LAR) are one-hour sessions, each costing $150. These sessions are designed to be informational and preparatory, not to resolve substantive issues, but rather to lay the groundwork for your path forward.

For Mediation Consultations

This initial session is a joint meeting with you and your partner or spouse. If you're unsure about including them at this stage, please schedule a free 10-15 minute phone call with me first to discuss your options.

To maximize our time, both parties should complete the intake form before your consultation. This helps me understand your concerns and the nature of the dispute, ensuring mediation is the right fit. Your information remains confidential and is used solely for preparation. During the session, we'll review the mediation agreement and the mediation process in detail, ensuring both parties know what to expect. We'll answer your questions and outline next steps, including whether mediation—or my services—are the right choice for you.

Schedule a mediation consult

For Limited Assistance Representation (LAR) Consultations

This initial session is an individual meeting with just you. If you have general questions about LAR or are unsure if it's the right fit for your situation, I also recommend scheduling a free 10-15 minute phone call before booking your consultation.

To ensure we make the most of our time together, please complete the intake form before your scheduled consultation. This form helps me gain a better understanding of your specific concerns and the nature of your legal matter, which allows us to determine how LAR can best serve you. Your information will be kept strictly confidential and used only for preparing for your session. By completing this in advance, we can dedicate our time to addressing your questions and planning next steps.

During the session, we will:

• Discuss your goals and the desired scope of services.

• Explore specific ways I can provide targeted support, such as drafting documents, coaching you through mediation, reviewing draft documents, preparing for court, or offering strategic advice on specific issues.

• Answer your questions and outline next steps, including whether LAR and my services are the right choice for your situation.

Schedule a LAR consult

Your Choice, Your Path

For both Mediation and LAR consultations, there is absolutely no obligation to proceed after our meeting. The entire process is voluntary, and how you choose to move forward is entirely up to you.

Important Disclaimer

Please note that an initial consultation, or any consultation for mediation or Limited Assistance Representation does not establish an attorney-client or mediator-client relationship. No such relationship will exist until a formal agreement is reduced to writing and signed by all involved parties.

Understanding Costs in Divorce and Family Law

The total cost of a divorce or family law matter is never guaranteed and depends on several factors: the complexity of legal and financial issues, the level of cooperation between parties, and the degree of conflict. Each case is unique.

Estimated Mediation Timeframes

While every case is different, here are general estimates for mediation based on typical experiences. These do not include time for drafting documents, external consultations, or court filings.

• Divorce Mediation: Most couples require 6 to 15 hours, often spread over multiple sessions. Cases with children, real estate, or retirement assets may take longer.

• Premarital Agreement Mediation: These matters can be more straightforward and may be completed as little as 2 to 4 hours of mediation, depending on the number and complexity of the terms discussed.

• Postmarital Agreement Mediation: These agreements may involve more nuanced or emotionally charged discussions. They may be completed in as little as 3 to 6 hours of mediation, though this can greatly vary based on the circumstances and complexity of the issues .

My priority is always to serve your best interests by navigating challenges constructively and cost-effectively, striving for efficient and financially manageable resolutions.

Why Massachusetts Litigation is Often Unpredictable

Family law litigation in Massachusetts (divorce, custody, support, etc.) is highly unpredictable in terms of both cost and duration due to factors largely beyond your control:

• Court Schedules & Delays: Heavy caseloads in Probate and Family Courts lead to frequent delays in hearings and trials, prolonging the process.

• Judicial Discretion: Judges have broad discretion, especially in asset division (M.G.L. c. 208, § 34). Outcomes depend on individual interpretations of facts and equitable factors, making rulings difficult to predict.

• Level of Conflict: High-conflict cases generate more motions, discovery, and court appearances, significantly increasing time and costs.

• Complexity of Issues: Cases involving business interests, retirement accounts, custody disputes, or hidden assets are time-intensive, often requiring expert evaluations and extensive legal work.

• Attorney Fees & Discovery: Litigation involves costly formal discovery (subpoenas, depositions). Since attorney billing is typically hourly, complex and contentious cases become more expensive.

In contrast, processes like mediation or collaborative law offer more control over timing and cost because the parties, not the court, set the pace.

For Limited Assistance Representation (LAR), timing and cost will similarly depend on the complexity of your specific issue.

Whether through mediation or LAR, I strive to help you resolve your needs in the most efficient and cost-effective way.

For Limited Assistance Representation, Flat Fees may available for:

• 1A Divorce Document Preparation (Uncontested)

• Review of Separation or Pre/Postmarital Agreement

• Mediation Support / Behind-the-Scenes Coaching

• Limited Court Appearance (Single Motion or Hearing)

• Financial Statement Preparation

• Child Support Guidelines Calculation and Consultation

For Mediation, flat fees may be available for document drafting such as separation agreements, and other related court docs.