Preparing for Mediation Sessions: A Practical Workbook

Most mediations stall because one or both parties show up unprepared. They lack documents, they have not thought through priorities, or they cannot clearly explain what they want. This hands-on course gives you the workbook approach used by experienced settlement professionals so that every session moves your case forward instead of repeating the same conversation. By the end of this course you will have a complete mediation binder ready, including a sworn-style financial disclosure summary, a parenting priority list, a property inventory with proposed splits, and at least two settlement options to bring to the table. What you will learn: - How to assemble a complete document set covering income, accounts, debts, retirement, and real estate - How to build a household budget that supports a realistic spousal or child support proposal - How to fill out a parenting plan worksheet covering schedules, holidays, decision-making, and communication - How to draft a property division spreadsheet that shows both equal and equitable scenarios - How to identify your best alternative to a negotiated agreement and your walk-away number - How to write opening statements that focus on interests and future outcomes - How to track agreements reached and open issues between sessions so nothing slips The course is structured as a step-by-step workbook. Each module introduces one preparation task, walks you through a filled-in example, and then guides you to complete your own version using the included templates. You build your binder progressively, so by the final module you have everything you need for the first or next session. This course is written for anyone who is already in mediation or actively choosing it. No legal training is required. By the end you will replace anxiety with a clear preparation routine and walk into each session with the documents, numbers, and options that mediators consistently say make settlement possible.