Family ... Family Care - Legal
Finding the Best Elder Mediator for Your Family - Part 3 (Read part 1 and part 2)
by Janet Mitchell, J.D., Director/Co-Founder of www.EldercareMediators.com, LLC, & Linda Ochsenfeld, J.D., Elder Mediator
How Much Does Elder Mediation Cost?
Mediators use written confidentiality and fee agreements in order for costs and procedures to be clearly spelled out and agreed-upon in advance. Mediators charge by the hour with rates ranging from an average of $150 per hour in Indiana, $175 in Florida, somewhat higher in Chicago and California, up to an average of $350 per hour in New York City.
Family members decide how many hours of mediation are needed, as well as who will pay for mediation. A family may decide to meet one time, perhaps for two hours, or may agree to meet on a periodic basis until full agreement is reached. Sessions may be held for longer or shorter periods of time by agreement, and those family members that live far away may attend by telephone or webcam.
Sometimes the parent or parent’s estate pays the mediation fees, and sometimes family members divide the fees, agreeing on the proportion that each will pay. For example, Indiana’s average elder mediator charges $150 per hour, so divided equally, three hours of mediation for five adult siblings would cost each $90.
Families save money by working out agreements. They avoid court costs and attorneys’ fees, but the greatest savings is in preserving family relationships. Time and time again, elders have been clear that their primary concern is that family members make decisions together—that the family remains a family.
