How to Prepare for Mediation: Divorce Mediation Checklist

mediation preparing for divorce

Here is a brief divorce mediation checklist to help you prepare for your first appointment.

Divorce Mediation Checklist: Questions for the Mediator

Make a list of questions that you have for the mediator. Before agreeing to use the mediator, you and your spouse should have an opportunity to speak with them. You'll want to ask about:

Mediator's experience
Cost of mediation/fees
Availability for meetings
Experience mediating the specific issues that will be dealt with in your divorce

Divorce Mediation Checklist: List Your Concerns

Make a list of all of your concerns. You may not address them in your first appointment, but it's important to start writing them down. To keep yourself organized, try to cluster your concerns about a specific topic. For example, make a list of all the concerns you have about your shared parenting agreement separately from concerns you have about dividing retirement accounts. To get you thinking, here are some topics to consider:

Parenting plan
Child support
Spousal support
Division of assets
Division of debt

Divorce Mediation Checklist: Financial Documents

Collect and organize all of your financial documents. Bring them with you to each appointment. Below is a list of documents to get you started (some may not apply):

Financial affidavits (if already completed)
Monthly/annual budget for each party
Tax returns with all supporting W-2s
Investment account statements
Bank account statements
Retirement account statements
Recent statements on Employee Stock Options, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and/or Restricted Stock accounts
Mortgage statement
Paystubs
Credit card statements
Recent statements for any outstanding loans
Policy statements for Life Insurance and/or Annuities
Social security estimate statements (available at www.ssa.gov)
Full P&L for current and prior year for any businesses owned
Insurance policies for all automobiles (write in current mileage for each vehicle)