Beaverton Divorce Mediation Sessions

Once you complete your consultation and agree to proceed with Matthew House as your divorce mediator, you will complete some intake information and participate in two to four mediation sessions. The number of sessions is based on the complexity of the case and whether you have minor children.

After the sessions are completed and all issues are resolved, Matthew will write a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) with all of the decisions that you have made in mediation.

Matthew always seeks to keep your preparation as simple as possible. The information he will request from you will be what is necessary for him to do a thorough job facilitating your mediation sessions and writing the Marital Settlement Agreement and Supplemental Agreements that will result from a successful mediation process.

The intake process has two components. The first is the intake file itself. It is a protected file that you will be able to access once you commit to mediation with Matthew. The file, which is user-friendly, will ask that you provide information about your family, ediucation, earnings, assets, debts, life insurance, and budgets.

The second component of the intake process is discovery. In legal parlance, discovery is the term for the exchanging of information between parties in a dispute or legal case. In mediation, discovery is less voluminous than in a contested or litigated case. However, even though parties in mediation are on civil terms and usually don't seek to be aggressive, there are practical reasons for a responsible discovery process.

Intake File to Prepare for Divorce Mediation

MORE ABOUT DISCOVERY

Sessions: The Setting

After a consultation, your next meeting with Matthew will be your first divorce mediation session. A mediation session is a two-hour meeting that includes only Matthew and the two parties. Attorneys are not present for Matthew's mediation sessions. You may meet in person or via Zoom.

If you meet via Zoom:

You may be in the same location, sharing the same device, or you may be in separate locations with separate devices.
In either case, you should be in a location where you can have a private and uninterrupted discussion. You should also ensure that your children are not present nearby, so that they do not hear what you are discussing.

If you wish to meet in person:

The session will be held in Matthew's Central Beaverton office at BG Plaza (Suite 271). The location information is here.
The office setting is a living-room setup with chairs and a sofa.
If you prefer a conference room with a table, Matthew can reserve the conference room downstairs.
If you use a mobility device or if getting in and out of a large chair would be difficult, please let Matthew know in advance so that the conference room can be reserved.

For either format (Zoom or in person):

The session will not be video recorded. Matthew may audio-record the session with a note-taking app for purposes of accuracy unless you do not approve. Matthew will delete the recording after the app's summary is generated.
You are welcome to take notes during the session, but please do not record it. Mediation discussions are confidential by law, and nothing produced in mediation can later be used by one party against the other in a court proceeding. Both parties are entitled to the peace of mind that the other is not recording the session, as both parties should feel free to voice concerns and express ideas without being held to their words in the future (except as agreed in writing in the Marital Settlement Agreement).

For mediation sessions concerning child-related topics, you will:

Child-Related Sessions

Child Support and Spousal Support Sessions

For child support and spousal support sessions:

For asset division, debt division, and other financial issues: