Divorce Consultation
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you're facing divorce and have no idea where to begin — what it costs, how long it takes, what your options even are — this consultation was made for that moment.
In one 60-minute session, you'll go from overwhelmed to oriented. We'll walk through the different types of divorce, what each path looks like for families like yours, and help you leave with a clear sense of direction — not more confusion.
If You're Searching for Answers, You've Probably Already Tried…
…reading articles that contradict each other, asking friends who went through messy divorces, worrying about costs you can't yet predict, wondering what divorce will do to your kids, feeling paralyzed because every decision feels permanent.
Our consultation cuts through the noise, fear, and guesswork.
In your consultation, we'll cover each type of divorce option available in Seattle, WA and which fits your situation.
1. Pro Se Divorce (Kitchen Table) — Complexity Level: Lowest
You and your spouse agree on every issue — property, support, and parenting — and file the court paperwork yourselves, without hiring attorneys. This is the fastest and least expensive path. There is no professional guidance built in, so mistakes or oversights are easy to make and can be costly later.
2. Mediation — Complexity Level: Low
You and your spouse meet with a single neutral mediator who helps you talk through and resolve issues like parenting time, support, and property division. The mediator does not take sides and does not decide the outcome for you — you and your spouse make all final decisions together, with the mediator guiding the conversation. Each of you can still have your own attorney review the agreement before it's signed. This choice works well when both people are willing to negotiate in good faith, even if the relationship is strained.
Divorce Coach Role: I support your parenting needs outside the mediation sessions — helping you create a joint divorce narrative for your children, offering child development education, connecting you with parenting resources, and any immediate needs of the children.
3. Co-Mediation — Complexity Level: Low–Moderate
Instead of one mediator, you work with two neutral professionals together — typically a financial neutral and a co-parenting coach — who guide both spouses through the financial and parenting issues side by side in the same meetings. Attorneys are still involved and review the agreement, but they aren't present in session. This offers more built-in expertise and support than solo mediation.
Divorce Coach Role: I'm in the room for every session, as one of your two neutrals — working directly alongside a financial specialist to guide your separation decisions.
4. Collaborative Divorce — Complexity Level: Moderate
Each spouse hires their own specially trained collaborative attorney, and everyone — both spouses and both attorneys — commits upfront to resolving the entire case outside of court. Meetings typically include a full team of neutral professionals, such as a financial specialist and a co-parenting coach, working alongside the attorneys in every session. If either spouse decides to go to court instead, both attorneys must withdraw from the case and the couple has to start over with new legal counsel — this built-in consequence keeps everyone motivated to stay at the table.
Divorce Coach Role: I'm part of your professional team in every meeting, working alongside both attorneys and a financial specialist as your co-parenting coach.
5. Arbitration — Complexity Level: Moderate–High
This is an adversarial processes in which, you and your spouse jointly choose and pay a neutral arbitrator — often a retired judge or an experienced family law attorney — to hear both sides and make a final, binding decision, much like a judge would. Unlike court, arbitration happens in a private setting on a schedule the couple sets, rather than waiting on the court's calendar. It's a good fit when you can't reach an agreement on your own but still want to avoid the delay and public exposure of a courtroom trial. Appeal rights are very limited once a decision is made.
6. Litigation (Attorney Settlement) — Complexity Level: Highest
Litigation is the traditional, adversarial court process: one spouse files a petition, both sides exchange information through discovery, and a judge decides what you can't resolve yourselves. Most litigated cases settle through attorney negotiation or a settlement conference with a mediator— before ever reaching a trial in front of the judge. Proceedings are public, and scheduling can take a year or more. Some clients still choose this path for a strong advocate and a court ruling, particularly when safety is a concern.
Not sure which path fits you? That's what we figure out together.
What We Cover in Your 60-Minute Divorce Consultation
This isn't an introductory sales call — it's a working session. Here's what we'll move through together:
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Most people don't know there are multiple paths — kitchen table, mediation, collaborative divorce, litigation, court. We'll walk through each one: how it works, what it costs, how long it typically takes, and who it's best suited for.
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We start by understanding where you are — who’s in your family, what support your family needs, what you're most worried about, and what decisions feel most urgent right now.
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Level of conflict, children's ages, financial complexity, communication between spouses — we'll look at your specific circumstances and help you understand which options are realistic for you.
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Whatever is keeping you up at night — bring it. There are no bad questions here.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Coming together works best — but starting alone is perfectly fine.
As a neutral professional, I create space for both perspectives to be heard equally. Some people begin this conversation solo first, and that's okay too.
This is a reduced-fee session — not a watered-down one. At $100 (regularly $300), this session is intentionally accessible. The goal is to give you real, meaningful guidance from the very first conversation — not a preview that leaves you with more questions.
No commitment required. Attending this consultation doesn't lock you into any process or ongoing services. It's simply a space to get clear — and decide what's right for you from a more informed place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime by emailing hi@SeattleFT.com.
If you’re feeling ready, go ahead and book a consultation.
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The session is $100 — reduced from our standard rate of $300/hour. This is a full 60-minute working session, not a brief introductory call. The reduced rate exists because we believe you deserve real guidance from the very first conversation, before you've committed to anything.
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We'll cover your current situation, walk through the different types of divorce available to you (kitchen table, court, arbitration, litigation, mediation, collaborative divorce), discuss what each path typically costs and how long it takes, and help you identify which options make the most sense for your family. You'll also have time to ask whatever questions are on your mind.
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Coming together works best — but starting alone is perfectly fine. As a neutral professional, I create space for both perspectives to be heard equally. Some people begin this conversation solo first, and that's okay too.
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We end every session with a clear plan — not a stack of homework, but a concrete next step that fits your situation. Depending on where you are in the process, that might look like establishing a temporary parenting plan or financial arrangement before lawyers get involved, building out your collaborative divorce team, or identifying the right legal path and what it takes to get started. You won't leave wondering what to do next.
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No preparation is required. If you have specific questions or concerns you want to make sure we cover, feel free to jot them down — but you can also come in with nothing and we'll guide the conversation from there.
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I'll give you honest, informed guidance based on your specific circumstances — including factors like level of conflict, children's needs, financial complexity, and communication between spouses. Ultimately the decision is yours, but you won't be making it in the dark.
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Yes. What you share in this session is kept confidential in accordance with professional standards. If both spouses attend, please note that this is a coaching consultation, not therapy, and confidentiality applies to the session as a whole rather than to each individual separately.
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My standard rate is $300/hour with no retainer required — you pay per session as we go. If you move forward with the collaborative divorce process, the other professionals on your team (attorneys, financial specialist) bill independently at their own rates. I can help you understand what to expect from the full team during our consultation.
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This consultation isn't marriage counseling — we won't be working on your relationship here. But if you're nearly certain divorce is coming and just can't picture what the other side looks like, this is exactly the right place to start. Understanding your options can make the decision feel less terrifying — and help you move forward with clarity, whatever you decide.