Agreements on parenting, support and property, reached privately and on your own terms, with a mediator who has spent decades in Kentucky family law.
Litigating every disagreement in a divorce means following rules, codes and case law at each step, in an open courtroom, with written claims placed in a public file. It’s slow, and it’s expensive.
Mediation is a faster, more private alternative. Instead of one side winning and the other losing, both people work toward common ground. When children are involved, that matters: parents who build their own agreements usually find it easier to co-parent afterward.
average time to a final divorce when a contested case settled, compared with one that went to trial, in a survey of divorcing readers.
Nolo, Martindale-Nolo divorce surveyaverage attorney fees reported by people who hired a full-service divorce lawyer, in the same survey.
Nolo, Martindale-Nolo divorce survey, 2019The dispute. After twenty years of marriage, both spouses want to keep the family home.
The resolution. One keeps the house and refinances by an agreed date; the other receives a larger share of the retirement savings to balance the equity.
The dispute. A parent’s new work hours make the weekday exchanges in the parenting plan impossible.
The resolution. Weekday evenings are traded for extended weekends and a summer block, with a simple process for handling the next change without a motion.
The dispute. Divorced parents disagree about moving their child to a new school.
The resolution. A joint meeting with the school counselor, a trial semester, and a set date to decide together whether to make the move permanent.
Illustrative examples only, not actual clients. Every outcome depends on the facts and the parties’ agreement.
Some families need ongoing help after the decree: a neutral professional who can work through day-to-day disagreements about schedules, exchanges and decisions before they turn into motions. Elizabeth offers parenting coordination for families who want that steady structure.
Elizabeth has practiced and mediated divorce and family law in Louisville for many years. She has handled divorce, custody and adoption cases and served as a guardian ad litem representing children’s interests in dependency court. She brings a practical sense of how Kentucky courts approach support, property and custody, and shares it with both parties so their decisions are informed ones.
Kentucky family courts may refer a case, or part of one, to mediation, but the rules don’t allow courts to send every case or type of case to mediation as a blanket policy, and it isn’t used where one party may pose a risk of harm to another. Many families choose mediation on their own. Kentucky Family Court Rules of Procedure and Practice, Rule 39
Yes. Mediation can happen before a case is filed, while it’s pending, or years later when a parenting plan or support arrangement needs updating.
That’s common in high-conflict situations. A session can be structured so each person meets with Elizabeth separately while she carries proposals between you. Tell her about any safety concerns during your first call.
Once terms are reached they’re put in writing and signed. In a divorce or custody case, the agreement is typically submitted to the court to become part of the order. Your attorneys can review everything before you sign.
A short conversation is the best first step. Elizabeth will listen, explain how mediation could work for your situation, and answer your questions about timing and fees.
1041 Goss Avenue, Louisville, KY 40217
Monday to Friday, 8 to 5; weekends by appointment