Frequently asked questions

Values agreed at the consensus stage are considered final and guide the next steps in the process. This methodical approach provides confidence that the financial settlement is accurate, fair, and ready to support the next stages of resolution.

Not fully understanding a value on the statement is common, and this is the right time to ask. The individual consensus sessions exist to make sure everything is understood. Your Divorce Resolution Expert will explain every line item on the joint net worth statement in plain language: what the figure represents, how it was arrived at, and what it means for your financial planning. You should not confirm any value you do not genuinely understand. Independent legal advice from a family lawyer or advice from a financial professional is also available at any point if you want a second perspective.

Each spouse deserves the space to ask questions and raise concerns without the other person in the room. In a joint session, people often hold back because they don't want to seem uninformed, or they don't want to prolong a meeting, or they’re not comfortable saying something in the presence of the other spouse. The individual format removes that pressure and produces more honest, more thorough engagement with the financial matters at hand.

It depends on the complexity of the situation and how straightforward the valuations are. In most cases the individual consensus sessions take one to two hours each. Where valuations are contested or a professional assessment is needed, there may be a gap between the first session and final confirmation. Your divorce mediation expert will keep the process moving with clear follow-up and timelines.

Your divorce mediator will exhaust every reasonable avenue before concluding that consensus is not possible on a specific item. In the rare cases where genuine impasse exists on a valuation, your expert will advise on the options. Maybe an independent professional valuation would resolve the question, or maybe that item needs to be addressed through independent legal advice before the negotiation process can move forward.