DJS Mediation Services

Improving Relationships by Managing and Preventing Conflict

DJS Mediation Services

Our dedication to family preservation and children led to a mission statement: "Improving Relationships by Managing and Preventing Conflict." Regardless of where your case stands during the divorce process, DJS is ready to assist and support via coaching and mediated settlements agreements, or post-divorce through modifications or additional mediated agreements, our devotion to families provides an alternative to the contentious pattern so often observed during these trying times. Recognizing the emerging trends in family law fueled our interest in the opportunity to serve families during all phases of the divorce process. This includes working with couples considering divorce, assisting couples with collaborative divorce, and providing guidance and preventative tools for reducing conflict after the divorce is finalized.

Senior Mediator, Deborah J Schmidt, MA also serves as an evaluator for contested custody cases and adoptions, by researching and writing social studies for the courts. We offer parenting coordination for families seeking a co-parenting plan, and serve as a neutral third party to manage the day-to-day interactions of post-divorce families, or negotiating changes to the family structure, child support agreements and child visitation schedules.

Is Collaborative Divorce right for us?

Collaborative Law is one method of resolving disputes without the use of a judge, jury, or even a courtroom. It is a confidential process in which both participants retain separate, collaboratively-trained lawyers. With the help of a neutrals, such as a mediator and often a financial advisor, all hired professionals help the participants craft a settlement that meets each party's individual goals and needs resulting from the divorce without creating an adversarial atmosphere.

Can we get started without two attorneys? Yes, you can.

Consider visiting / hiring a mediator first.

When couples consider a divorce or separation, many assume the next step is for each person to hire an attorney in preparation for long, drawn out proceedings. One of the primary complaints surrounding collaborative law is the fees are still several hundreds of dollars per hour and paying up to four professionals at a time is prohibitive. If your estate is valued under $500,000, and/or the primary issues are largely uncontested, it may be possible for you and your spouse to sit down with just a mediator and craft your agreement in a few short meetings. We offer this service under the heading "Uncontested Divorce."

Understanding that every couple that is going through divorce is going to have some areas they disagree should encourage your family to try mediation. You do not surrender your right to an attorney at any time, but many of our clients are able to resolve their differences with the mediator alone, saving them thousands of dollars. Certainly, you may need the assistance of the neutral to figure everything out, mainly because high emotions associated with conflict often limit creativity. If you are willing to come to mediation with an open mind and curiosity, this will allow our professionals to share solutions that have helped families such as yours, and allows us to create options that you and your spouse may not be able to come up with on your own.

Why is a mediated divorce better than a litigated divorce? It is simpler, more dignified, and focuses on remaining civil:

• Look forward to the opportunity to fully discuss any issue before committing to the solution that's right for your family.
• We offer a pace that is respectful of your time. Shorter meetings address one concern area at a time so that clients can try out living with different agreements before signing the final draft; With a signed mediated settlement, the judge's final decree will support your decisions.
• You learn to communicate better - a MUST for parents
• You can take time between appointments to gather necessary information & think about your alternatives.
• You can enhance solutions quickly and easily before finalizing the agreement.

For more information regarding mediating your divorce, please visit our Divorce & Separation Mediation Frequently Asked Questions Page.

DJS Mediation Services provides comprehensive solutions for all types of divorce situations. However, we generalize these into two main categories:

Uncontested Divorce Mediation
The average fees for divorce mediation services are $1,950.00, which are nonrefundable. This rate is based on an estimate of 3 half-day sessions, which are discounted to $600.00 each, and carry an administrative fee of $50.00 per meeting. These fees will also cover interim email and phone consultation, and preparation for each meeting. We respect your financial concerns and hope that by offering your family an opportunity to budget for this event, we will in turn earn your respect. Additional fees will be owed to the courts, and our consultant will be sure to go over all anticipated costs with you before accepting any form of payment. We anticipate that the third meeting will culminate with signing the Mediated Settlement Agreement.

This process is designed to be able to resolve and formalize matters concerning your divorce. In order for this solution to succeed, both clients are responsible for outlining the terms together and producing any documentation requested by the mediator which may be necessary to produce the written Mediated Settlement Agreement.

Contested Divorce Mediation
Clients who are not able to resolve their issues without additional in-person mediation sessions will pay the mediator an additional $750.00 per meeting; which includes the administrative fees.

In order for this solution to succeed, both clients are responsible for outlining the terms together and producing any documentation requested by the mediator which may be necessary to produce the written Mediated Settlement Agreement.

Additional fees for document preparation and travel may apply.

A $975 nonrefundable deposit is required before divorce mediation services may begin, which may be applied to any of the aforementioned fees and is deemed fully earned by DJS Mediation Services upon payment by clients.

Parenting Coordination in Texas

An impartial third party [may be appointed by the court] to assist parents in resolving issues relating to parenting and other family issues arising from an order in a suit affecting the parent-child relationship.

[As defined by Texas Family Code 153.601(3)]

DJS Mediation parenting coordination facilitates the parents in:

• Identifying disputed issues
• Reducing misunderstandings
• Clarifying priorities
• Exploring possibilities for problem solving
• Developing methods of collaboration in parenting
• Developing a parenting plan
• Complying with the court's orders

Parenting coordination services offered by our firm focus on reducing parental conflict in order to enhance the child's emotional functioning and facilitate shared parenting. While using several skills of the mental health profession in assisting families, this service is not psychotherapy or counseling.

Our firm is also qualified to write Memorandums of Understanding for the purpose of clarification or Mediated Settlement Agreements for modifications to the original divorce decree, in the event the parties reach a mutual agreement. Any fully executed settlement agreement can be admitted to any court proceeding without objection as evidence of such settlement. If settlement is reached, the agreement shall be reduced to writing and, when signed, shall be binding upon all parties to the agreement.

None of these services constitute legal counsel. Each party retains his or her right to counsel at all times and is encouraged to seek legal advice before signing any mediated settlements.

After the free 1-hour initial consultation, the mediator's fees are $170.00 per hour, divided evenly at $85 per hour per each party. A minimum of $750.00 per case is due in advance of the first scheduled meeting date.

Articles Written

Separation Anxiety Upon Deciding to Divorce

Created On: 11/08/2011

Immediately after one party leaves the home, couples often relate that they experience a great deal of stress. While the anger that fueled the fighting or silent treatment may still be present, the protagonist is no longer physically present in the quiet spaces of the day.

What Does Grief Have to Do with This?

Created On: 04/05/2011

At the outset of the decision to end a marriage, one or both partners may feel some relief from the previous suspense of waiting for a final determination.  Even when both halves of a couple agree...

What Do We Tell Our Kids About the Divorce? When?

Created On: 03/28/2011

Please be sure to tell your children together, if at all possible. It is always difficult to hear bad news, but it is unfair and MAY appear unbalanced in your children's eyes if they hear...

Holiday Swapping Tips

Created On: 03/11/2009

Case History

Child taken across state lines

Practice Area: Child Custody

Description: Divorce petition filed in a county in the D-FW area. Mother left the state with the 10-year-old child prior to receiving service and refused to return with child without court order. Older half sibling enrolled in out-of-state vocational school while case was pending. Judge ordered social study evaluation of best interest of the child, based on both parent's living arrangements and full assessment of resources.

Outcome: After social study was published and submitted to the courts and both attorneys, these clients were able to draft a compromise during mediation which allowed the mother & child to remain out of state until the child completed the end of the school year. The mother returned home with the child and this family progressed to a more equitable visitation plan.

Resume

• Experience
• Education
• Affiliations

DJS Mediation Services, (ALLEN, TX)

Senior Mediator, 2005 - present

1. Social study reports for child custody disputes and adoptions 2. Family mediation settlements including the terms of divorces, child support/ modifications, and co-parenting dilemmas, visitation schedules 3. Settlements written regardless of marital status to resolve terms surrounding any and all financial disputes between co-habitating couples, including same-sex unions 3. Facilitated resolution between the public schools and/or families, and staff members at the campus and district level. 4. Civil mediated settlements for small claims, court-referred cases including real estate issues, consumer complaints, as well as interpersonal matters. Services may be voluntary -or- court-appointed.

Collin County Community College District, (Plano, TX)

Instructor, 2006 - 2009

1. Primary Instructor for Business Mediation Certificate Series; Developed curriculum for series 2. Business Lectures & Executive Coaching 3. C.E.U. Workshops for Mental Health Providers 4. Staff trainings for Fortune 500 companies, churches, and schools.

Southern Methodist University, (Dallas, TX)

Masters, Dispute Resolution 2007

1. Research Assistant to M. Collatrella, Assistant Director of DR program (2006- 2007). Collaborated on a mediation textbook revision. 2. Intern for SMU Center for Dispute Resolution (2005- 2006). Handled family court cases. Responsible for writing mediated settlements including the terms of divorces, visitation, child support modifications, and parenting dilemmas; received academic credit.

Texas A&M University, (College Station, TX)

BS, Psychology & Marketing 1991

1. Studied with emphasis on child development and behavioral disorders 2. Intern for Children of Alcoholism study through TAMU under Professor Cavell 3. Practicum through the “Mental Health / Mental Retardation” of Brazos County, TX working for patients dealing with schizophrenia, mood disorders, and substance abuse. 4. Minor in Marketing

Allen Sunrise [Rotary International], 2006 - present

TX Association of Mediators, 2005 - present

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, 2005 - present

Collaborative Law Institute of TX, 2006 - 2007

SW Conflict Resolution Network, 2005 - present

State of Texas’ Centralized Master Bidders List, HUB certified, 2009 - present

Lawyers

Deborah J. Schmidt

Free Case Review

Location : Allen, TX

Practice Areas: Divorce Mediation