Divorce Mediation

Watch this short video to understand how divorce mediation at Joerika Stitt Esquire, LLC works.

A Mediator with Legal & Family Systems Experience

You don’t have to let a judge decide your family's future. Divorce mediation puts you in control — with the guidance of a certified mediator who understands both the law and the people behind it.

Joerika Stitt, J.D., M.S.W.

Licensed Illinois Attorney • Certified Mediator • Collaborative Divorce Attorney

Experience That Bridges Law and Human Understanding

Attorney Stitt brings a rare combination of professional experience to divorce mediation. Before becoming an attorney she spent nearly a decade working as a master level social worker — helping individuals and families navigate complex personal and family transitions.

She now combines that human centered experience with her legal training and certification as a mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution. The result is a mediator who understands not just the legal framework but the emotional dynamics, communication challenges, and family systems that shape every mediation she conducts.

How the Mediation Process Works

Every package follows the same proven path. This is where the value lives:

1. A private call with each spouse — before mediation begins. Attorney Stitt speaks with each of you individually first. This makes it possible to understand your goals, concerns, and priorities, surface anything sensitive in advance, and confirm mediation is the right fit — so your very first session together is productive, not a slow start.

2. Structured, focused mediation sessions. You work through each issue in an organized sequence, so nothing important gets missed and every session moves you forward. You'll always know what's being covered and what comes next.

3. A facilitative and evaluative approach. Most mediators do one or the other. Attorney Stitt does both. Facilitatively, she helps the two of you communicate clearly and craft your own solutions — because the agreements people design themselves are the ones that last. Evaluatively, drawing on her years as a family law attorney, she reality-tests your options and gives you a grounded sense of how a court would likely view them — so you're never deciding in the dark. As a neutral, Attorney Stitt advises neither side; she helps you both see the full picture and decide with confidence.

4. A Memorandum of Understanding — with guidance for what's next. At the close, Attorney Stitt prepares a clear written Memorandum of Understanding documenting exactly what you've agreed to, and noting any items left open. It comes with practical guidance on your next steps. The MOU is your roadmap; the firm recommends each of you have it reviewed by independent counsel before signing a binding agreement.

Issues Commonly Addressed in Mediation

  • DIVORCE AGREEMENTS

    - Division of marital property

    - Retirement assets and financial accounts

    - Spousal maintenance

  • PARENTING MATTERS

    - Parenting time schedules

    - Parental decision-making responsibilities

    - Co-parenting structures

  • CHILD & SPOUSAL SUPPORT

    - Support calculations

    - Allocation of child-related expenses

  • POST-DIVORCE MATTERS

    - Parenting plan modifications

    - Support modifications

    - Resolving disputes after divorce

Resolve Your Divorce Without the Courtroom

In mediation, you and your spouse make the decisions about your future — not a judge, and not two opposing attorneys battling it out. As your mediator, Attorney Stitt guides both you and your spouse through every issue in a structured, respectful process designed to reach a fair agreement with less cost, less conflict, and more control over the outcome.

Each option below is a complete, flat-fee package. You know your full cost up front, and everything you need to reach a signed Memorandum of Understanding is included — no hourly surprises, no clock running every time you have a question.

Choose Your Package

  • The Parenting-Focused Package — $3,500

    For couples whose primary focus is their children.

    Build a parenting plan and schedule that works for your family, guided by someone who understands both the law and the emotional dynamics at play.

    Included:

    • A private intake call with each spouse

    • 2 structured mediation sessions

    • Attorney Stitt's full facilitative + evaluative approach

    • A complete parenting plan and parenting-time schedule

    • Your Memorandum of Understanding with next-step guidance

    One flat fee. A co-parenting foundation you both helped build.

  • The Property & Finances Package — $3,500

    For couples dividing assets, debts, and finances.

    Divide what you've built fairly and transparently — without the cost and combativeness of litigation.

    Included:

    • A private intake call with each spouse

    • 3 structured mediation sessions

    • Attorney Stitt's full facilitative + evaluative approach

    • Guided division of assets, debts, property, and a framework for support

    • Your Memorandum of Understanding with next-step guidance

    One flat fee. Clarity on the numbers, and a fair result you both shaped.

  • The Comprehensive Resolution Package — Starts at $7,000

    For couples ready to resolve everything in one process.

    Parenting and finances, start to finish — a complete divorce agreement reached cooperatively and on your terms.

    Included:

    • A private intake call with each spouse

    • 4 structured mediation sessions

    • Attorney Stitt's full facilitative + evaluative approach

    • Parenting plan and schedule

    • Full division of assets, debts, property, and a support framework

    • Your Memorandum of Understanding with next-step guidance

    One flat fee. Your entire agreement, settled with dignity.

  • Need More Time? Additional Sessions — $700 each

    Some couples need an extra conversation to get it right. Additional sessions are a flat $700 — predictable, no surprises, never a running meter.

  • Fees and Logistics

    Package fees may be split between spouses (commonly 50/50) or however you agree. Have questions about which package fits your situation? [Schedule a consultation] and the firm will help you find the right starting point.