Frequently Asked Questions

No. We are trained, certified mediators, not attorneys; we do not provide legal advice or legal representation, and the agreements we help you reach are not legal contracts. What we offer is a structured, neutral space to work out a plan for your pet's care. If you are in the midst of a broader separation or divorce, the written summary from mediation can be brought to your legal counsel to help inform the pet-related terms of your formal agreement.

That is a common starting point, and it is fine. If you reach out first, we can send a calm, neutral invitation to the other person explaining what mediation is and offering them the option to take part; it does not pressure or take a side. Participation is always voluntary, so if the other person declines, mediation cannot move forward right away, but the door stays open if things change later.

Most people begin with a short, complimentary consultation, just to understand your situation and see if mediation is the right fit. From there, we typically schedule a one-on-one session with each person before bringing everyone together, though if both parties reach out together and communication feels steady, we may move straight to a joint session instead. Nothing is decided in these early conversations; they are there to help the joint session go more smoothly once you sit down together.

Tension is normal, and we do not expect every conversation to be easy. If a session starts to feel heated or circular, we pause, reset, and bring things back to the agenda. Our job is to keep the conversation structured and on track; not to guarantee a particular outcome.

No. We do not advocate for either person or push towards a particular outcome. Our role is to keep the process fair, make sure everyone is heard, and focus on crafting an agreed upon workable plan. Neutrality is the foundation of the whole process. Without it, mediation does not work.

It varies. Some situations are resolved in a single Joint Session; others take longer, especially when there is more to work through and an additional Joint Session is needed to finish reaching agreement. Because every situation is different, we do not set an expected timeline in advance. The pace is shaped by what actually comes up once you are in the process.