Initial Consultation: No Charge
Standard Hourly Fee:*
- $200.00/Hr Back-Office/Associate Work & Meetings Where Client Is Not Present
- $250.00/Hr Client Mediation Session w/Either Both or One of the Spouses
- No Charge for Telephone Communication Less than 15 Minutes
- No Charge for Shorter E-Mail Communications. Longer E-Mail Reports Charged at the Back-Office/Associate Rate.
Flat Fee: Quoted Upon Request
Scope of the Work: Letter Generated As Needed Confirming and Describing Our Engagement
As a rule-of-thumb assume one Mediator will take about 8-10 hours, including back office, to complete a case having few issues. As an example, these few issues might include conflict between the couple, or issues between either parent and any of their children. The couple must be able to communicate and work productively together; if not, the couple must allow us to show them how to communicate and work together in a positive and forward looking manner. This also assumes documentation is in good order. If the process goes smoothly, work could be done over a few months and the total cost would be roughy $2,000.
Our more usual case might take one Mediator between 15-30 hours, including back office. The issues and finances are complex, requiring time and consideration. The total cost for this kind of case, which might take six months or so, would be roughly $4,000-$6,000. A few cases with special circumstances have gone to $7,000.
More complex and sophisticated cases involve, for example, business or partnership interests, multi-state or international holdings, special needs children, more difficult interpersonal issues, conflict, estate plans, and so forth. You can expect these cases to cost more, sometimes significantly more, and take longer to Mediate. Often a second Mediator will be asked to participate in moving the process forward. The total cost for this complex case will be defined and presented in the Scope of the Work, letter of engagement, mentioned above. You can expect the total cost for this more sophisticated work to be over $6,500.
In all cases the integrity of the Mediation is paramount. Clients retain control and accept ownership of their separation or divorce.
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Pension Plan terms and conditions are set by the Plan Administrator under the Summary Plan Description or ERISA. Barry M. Weissman & Associates provides certain valuations on a best guess estimate basis, an approximation that can only be used for illustrative Scenarios or hypothetical purposes.
Note: Pension Plan valuations, Business & Real Estate valuations, and Forensic Accounting investigations are performed by outside vendors we might suggest but do not endorse. QDROs and COAPs can be written by either your attorneys or outside vendors we might suggest. You as our client, contracts with, and is responsible for payment directly to, those vendors and in accordance with those vendors’ terms.
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Barry M. Weissman & Associates does not provide Expert Testimony.
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Barry M. Weissman & Associates makes no representation, stated or implied, that it acts as or is a Certified Public Accounting Firm, CPA. Further, Barry M. Weissman & Associates offers no tax advice, and does not complete income tax forms.
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Barry M. Weissman & Associates does not offer legal advice or legal representation.
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Barry M. Weissman & Associates does not sell real estate, insurance, securities, or offer investment advice.
Terms of Payment: Itemized billings are mailed on or about the 15th day of each month, due and payable upon receipt. In the event your account goes 30-days past due, or 45 days after invoice date, work will cease without further notification until the account is brought up-to-date. A $35 charge will be imposed for returned ISF checks. Credit Cards are not accepted. At our discretion and at any time a retainer may be charged.
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These Fees and Terms of Payment may be changed at any time and at our discretion.
*Note: Monthly Statements are sent in duplicate to the payer spouse; one copy is to be kept for their records. The other copy is to be returned with payment. Even though the spouses might still be living under the same roof, an additional copy clearly marked COPY and For Your Records Only. Do Not Pay is sent to the other spouse for their permanent records.
Please Note: Our work is focused on divorcing spouses meeting residency requirements within the “Equitable Settlement” states. Our work is somewhat different in the Community Property states of: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Please tell us if you currently live or have lived within a community property state. We need to consider several factors, for example, we need to adjust for income you have earned from separate property that remains treated as separate property in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington.
