Go through divorce peacefully with an online divorce

Many of the cheap online divorce services do not create good paperwork for your divorce filing.

They also don’t help you and your spouse understand the details involved in the decisions—and won’t help you if you can’t agree on certain decisions.

That’s not surprising, since there is no one guiding you through the process—they just have you fill out a form online.

Professional guidance online

With online divorce mediation, professional mediator Erik Wheeler guides you through the process and helps you understand the decisions involved. He also helps you work through any disagreements you may have in the process.

How it works

The couple meets online with the mediator, by Zoom.

The mediator begins by giving an overview of the divorce process in Vermont.

Then he will guide you through all the different decisions you wil need to make. You can take the time to come to a solution that will work for both of you (and your children, if any).

If you have any disagreements, the mediator will help facilitate an effective discussion and negotiation.

What the divorce mediator will cover

The mediator will guide you through the many decisions you’ll need to make in order to file the paperwork for divorce. You will cover the following aspects:

Asset division

As part of the divorce, you and your spouse will need to discuss how to divide your assets. In Vermont, virtually all property is considered marital property, regardless of whether it is owned jointly or individually. Vermont law says that it should be divided “equitably”.

This doesn't necessarily mean a 50/50 split. The law directs the court to consider multiple factors when dividing property, and you can refer to those factors as you determine how to divide the assets.

Assets you’ll need to divide include:

• Real Estate: Your home, investment properties
• Retirement: IRAs, 401Ks, pensions
• Vehicles: Cars, RVs, sport vehicles
• Bank accounts: Checking, savings, CDs
• Personal property: Furniture, possessions

Spousal Support

In some situations, spousal support (often called “alimony”) may be appropriate. The law outlines specific criteria for whether, and how much, spousal support is indicated.

Spousal support may be appropriate if one person:

• Lacks sufficient income, property, or both, to provide for his or her reasonable needs
• Is unable to support himself or herself through appropriate employment at the standard of living established during the civil marriage or is the custodian of a child of the parties

For example, if one parent stayed home for a significant amount of time to care for the couple’s children during the marriage, he or she did not earn income during that time, and may need training or time to get a job to support himself or herself. In this case, it would be reasonable for that spouse to request spousal suport.

The law gives judges guidelines for determining spousal support. You and your spouse can use these guidelines as a starting point for your discussions, and you are free to negotiate whatever arrangement is agreeable to you both.

Parenting Plan

If you have children, there are many decisions you will need to make together to file for divorce. It’s important to take the time to work out an agreement that is acceptable to you both, as you will need to work together for the benefit of your children for many years.

Some examples of parenting decisions you’ll need to make:

• Parent-Child Contact: How much time will the children spend with each parent? What will the schedule be?
• Parental Rights and Responsibilities: Who will make the “big” decisions regarding the children? Both of you, or just one of you?
• Holidays: How will you allocate holidays?
• Vacations: How will you allocate school vacation time?

Divorce Filing

Once you have come to agreement on all the details, Erik will create the court paperwork for you to file. You can review the paperwork with an attorney if you like, and when you are both ready, you can sign and file the paperwork with the court as an uncontested divorce.

Cost of Divorce Mediation

The good news is that divorce mediation costs much less than if you each get a divorce attorney.

The cost of divorce mediation depends on whether you have children, how complex your situation is, and how well you work together. The rate for mediation sessions as well as court paperwork is $200 per hour.

When a couple is largely in agreement on the details, they usually need just one or two 2-hour mediation sessions. Court paperwork usually takes 3–5 hours, depending on whether you have children. So for these couples, the cost is under $2,000 total. You each would pay half that amount (or you may decide to pay from joint assets).