Divorce is hard. Divorce with kids is harder. And if you’re reading this in the middle of it, you probably already know the traditional path β two attorneys, court dates, rising bills, and a judge who’s never met your children β isn’t what you want for your family.
There’s another way.
Divorce mediation lets Atlanta parents make their own decisions about custody, parenting time and support β guided by a neutral professional instead of adversarial lawyers. It’s faster, far less expensive, and built around what works for both you and your children.
At Atlanta Divorce Mediation Services, Dr. Jeri Breiner has guided hundreds of Georgia families through this process of being a licensed Clinical Psychologist for over four decades and in 2014 becoming a registered Civil Neutral, Domestic Relations, Domestic Violence Mediator and more recently a Probate Mediator with the State of Georgia. This guide walks you through what to expect β costs, timelines, parenting plans, and how to make it work for you and your children.
Our divorce mediation is a structured, out-of-court process where you and your spouse sit down with a trained, neutral mediator to make every decision your divorce requires β together. The mediator doesn’t take sides and doesn’t impose outcomes. Their job is to guide the conversation, keep it productive, and help you reach a fair agreement.
In Georgia, the mediated agreement becomes a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) β a comprehensive document covering everything from property division to parenting time. Once both spouses sign it, you can file it with your county’s Superior Court, with or without an attorney, and a judge will issue the Final Decree of Divorce.
At Atlanta Divorce Mediation Services, the process follows 9 clear steps:
No courtroom. No surprise invoices. No handing your family’s future to strangers.
For parents, divorce mediation isn’t just cheaper β it’s structurally better for your children. Here’s why:
It protects your children. Research consistently shows that children’s long-term wellbeing after divorce is tied more to the level of parental conflict than to the divorce itself. Mediation is built to reduce that conflict.
You control the parenting plan. A mediator helps you build an arrangement around your actual children β their ages, schools, activities, and needs.
It models cooperation. The way you and your spouse handle the divorce is the first chapter of your co-parenting relationship. Mediation starts it on the right foot.
It costs a fraction of litigation. That money can go toward your kids’ college fund instead of attorney fees.
Here’s where most online guides get it wrong. National averages ($3,000β$6,000 per person to begin the litigation process) reflects hourly-rate mediators and hidden admin fees. At Atlanta Divorce Mediation Services, pricing is flat-fee and transparent β you know exactly what you’ll pay before you start.
| Service | Fee |
| Mediation session (90 minutes) | $450 |
| Average total mediation (3 sessions) | $1,350 |
| Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) | $650 |
| Parenting Plan + Child Support Worksheet (add-on) | +$250 |
| Parenting Plan + Child Support Worksheet (standalone) | $650 |
| Flat-fee attorney filing option | $2,000 |
Typical all-in total: under $5,000 β even with the optional attorney filing.
For comparison, a contested divorce in Georgia commonly runs $25,000β$45,000 per spouse, and a high-conflict case can go well beyond that. Mediation isn’t just affordable β for most Atlanta families, it’s the difference between closing this chapter financially whole and starting over in debt.
π See full pricing details β
Most Atlanta couples working with Dr. Jeri complete mediation in three 90-minute sessions spread over 4β8 weeks. The pacing is yours β some couples finish in a month; others take longer to gather financials or consult with outside advisors between sessions.
Here’s a realistic timeline:
Week 1: Free consultation and first mediation session
Weeks 2β5: Sessions 2 and 3, with time between to review information and think through decisions
Week 5β6: Dr. Jeri drafts your MOU and parenting plan
Week 6β8: You review, make corrections, and sign
After signing: File with your county court (with or without an attorney) for the Final Decree
Compared to a contested Georgia divorce, which routinely takes 12β18 months to finalize, mediation gets you to the other side of this chapter dramatically faster β which matters for kids, who thrive on stability.
A parenting plan is the part of your divorce that matters most to you and your children. In mediation, you don’t fill in a court template β you build an arrangement that actually fits your family.
Dr. Jeri brings over 20 years of parenting research to every plan, including extensive experience with parenting children who have disabilities or special needs. A strong parenting plan crafted in mediation typically covers:
Legal and physical custody β who makes major decisions, and where the child primarily lives
Regular parenting time schedule β weekdays, weekends, school-year routine
Holiday and summer schedule β including birthdays, school breaks, and family traditions
Transportation and exchanges β who picks up, drops off, and where
Communication guidelines β between parents, and between each parent and the child during the other’s time
Decision-making protocol β medical, educational, religious, extracurricular
Child support β calculated using the Georgia Child Support Worksheet
Dispute resolution β how to handle disagreements without going back to court
A good parenting plan isn’t just a legal document. It’s a roadmap that reduces friction for years to come.
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The mediation process is also a rehearsal for the co-parenting relationship you’re about to start. The habits you build now will shape the next decade of your children’s lives.
A few strategies Dr. Jeri recommends to clients:
Use a shared digital calendar for school events, medical appointments, and parenting-time swaps β tools like OurFamilyWizard, Cozi, or a simple shared Google Calendar work well.
Communicate in writing for anything important, so there’s no ambiguity later.
Respect the other household’s rules even if they differ from yours β consistency matters less than stability.
Never put the children in the middle as messengers or confidants about the other parent.
Build in regular check-ins (monthly or quarterly) to review how the parenting plan is working and adjust as kids grow.
Stick to the plan, but stay flexible when real life requires it.
Co-parenting isn’t about being friends. It’s about being partners in raising your children. Mediation gives you a foundation built on that idea from day one.
Preparation makes mediation faster, smoother, and cheaper. Before your first session with Dr. Jeri, gather:
Financial documents: recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank and retirement account statements, mortgage statements, credit card and loan balances, current home value.
Insurance information: health, life, auto, home.
Childcare and child-related expenses: daycare, tuition, activities, medical.
Determine current or future living expenses and income.
A list of assets and debts acquired during the marriage.
Your goals and non-negotiables β think about what matters most to you and why.
Just as important: come in with the right mindset. Mediation works when both spouses are willing to listen, compromise where they can, and stay focused on outcomes rather than winning.
Mediation is a powerful tool, but it isn’t the right choice for every situation. It may not work if there is a significant power imbalance, one spouse is hiding assets or refuses to disclose finances, one spouse won’t participate in good faith, or there are active protective orders or safety concerns.
In those cases, the traditional legal system β with the protections it offers β is the right path. During your free consultation, Dr. Jeri will help you honestly assess whether mediation is a fit. If it isn’t, she’ll tell you.
Do I need a lawyer if I mediate in Georgia? No. You can file your signed Memorandum of Understanding, Parenting Plan, and Child Support Worksheet with the court yourself. Some parents prefer to have an attorney review the MOU before signing, or handle the court filing. We offer a flat-fee attorney filing option ($2,000) through our pre-vetted list of mediation-friendly Georgia attorneys.
Is Dr. Jeri an attorney? No β Dr. Jeri is a Clinical Psychologist and a Georgia Supreme Court Registered Mediator. She provides neutral mediation, not legal advice. Her background in psychology is a major asset for parenting-related decisions.
Can we mediate if we’re already separated? Yes. Many couples come to mediation after months or years of separation. The process works the same.
What if we can’t agree on something? That’s exactly what mediation is designed for. Dr. Jeri’s role is to help you work through stuck points in a structured way. If an issue gets really stuck, you can take a break, consult with an outside advisor, and come back or decide to litigate on that one point keeping the remaining agreements intact.
What if things change after the divorce? You can return to mediation at any time for modifications β new schedules, new circumstances, new disputes β without going to court or file an amendment with the court for major changes.
If you’re an Atlanta parent considering divorce, you don’t have to choose between a bruising court battle and simply accepting a bad outcome. Mediation with Dr. Jeri Breiner gives you a third path β one that protects your finances, your children, and your sanity.
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with Dr. Jeri. Bring your spouse. We’ll walk through your situation, answer your questions, and help you decide if mediation is the right fit for your family.
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Or call directly: 678-985-8858
