The Path to a Better Divorce

Say FairWell to long, drawn-out litigation and costly disputes.

Mediation offers parties reasonable and sound solutions that can lead to better outcomes and far less conflict than traditional legal processes.

And unlike other mediations, FairWell also provides you with completed court documents at the conclusion of the mediation process.

Minnesota Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Mediation and Court Documents:

An All-in-One Solution

Unlike other mediators, we don’t just help you reach an agreement—we ensure it’s legally complete. Most mediators leave you to figure out the court documents on your own, often forcing you to hire an attorney and revisit unresolved issues. At FairWell, we draft your documents behind the scenes as you mediate, so everything is handled in real time. When we’re done, you’re truly done. No extra steps, no surprises—just a clear path forward, with filing included.

a Unique Alternative to Traditional Divorce

Our Process

Why Choose

Mediation over Litigation

Mediation isn’t just a quicker, less expensive option—it’s a way to move forward with respect and clarity. Unlike the adversarial nature of courtroom litigation, mediation helps you focus on what truly matters: resolving disputes peacefully and preserving relationships for the future.

Why Mediation May Be Right for You:

Efficiency: Mediation is less formal and not bound by court schedules, allowing for a faster resolution.
Privacy: Sessions occur in a private setting, providing a confidential space for open discussions.
Empowerment: You maintain control over the decisions that will shape your family’s future.
Family-Centered Solutions: Mediation is particularly beneficial in cases involving child custody, ensuring that the child’s best interests remain the priority.

Why Choose Johnson/Turner for your mediation

Minnesota Divorce Mediation Lawyers

Quickly Start and Finalize Your Divorce
You and Your Spouse Control the Process, Not Court or Attorneys
Family Mediation Services Tailored to Your Case
Calculation of Child Support
You and Your Spouse Receive all Finalized Court Documents, Ready for Filing
Your FairWell Guide Serves as a Referral Source if You and Your Spouse Need Additional Expertise, Such as a Financial Planner, Home Appraiser and/or Business Valuator
Less Expensive, Flat Fee Pricing
Child Custody and Parenting Time
Division of Assets and Debt
Spousal Maintenance/Alimony
You and Your Spouse Work Together with a Neutral FairWell Guide to Identify/Resolve Disputes

WhAT TO EXPECT DURING THE

Mediation Process

Mediation is a structured yet flexible process designed to keep you in control of your future. Our mediators at Johnson/Turner will guide you and your spouse through each step, ensuring you both have the information and support you need to reach an agreement that works for your family.

The Stages of Mediation:

Introductory Stage: You and your spouse will provide background details and set goals with the mediator.
Information-Gathering: Important financial documents are reviewed to ensure both parties are fully informed.
Framing Stage: Each spouse outlines their needs and interests to guide the negotiation.
Negotiating Stage: The mediator helps you explore potential solutions and reach a mutually acceptable agreement.
Concluding Stage: Once both parties agree, the mediator drafts a settlement to be reviewed and finalized.

a fair solution

Minnesota Mediation Services

Divorce litigation can be costly—not only can couples incur expensive legal fees, but the relationship between them can suffer irreparable harm during the process. Our adversarial system of justice puts delicate family relationships at risk by pitting the parties against each other in court.

If you are concerned about protecting or preserving important familial relationships, while advancing your legal interests, you should contact FairWell Family Law Mediation to consult an experienced mediator and guide in Minnesota, including the Twin Cities. We understand how valuable your family relationships are. That is why we are dedicated to delivering quality Alternative Dispute Resolution to assist families in finding equitable legal solutions to their disputes.

Divorce Mediation

A Path to Quick & Compassionate Resolution

Divorce Mediation

Marriage is a legal relationship that is regulated by state law. As a corollary, state courts are responsible for issues regarding the termination of that legal relationship. Thus, Minnesota courts are tasked with the job of presiding over litigation concerning divorce.

Divorce proceedings can be very complicated, as they often involve different legal issues arising under Minnesota family law. As a result, the divorce process generally demands assistance from a legal professional with a sophisticated understanding of the substantive laws and procedural rules governing divorce issues in Minnesota.

Divorce doesn’t have to be so complex, though. If you and your spouse both want a divorce and are in agreement about the terms of your separation, then our team can help you get an easy and quick divorce in Minnesota.

What does divorce mediation involve?

Generally, divorce mediation cases involve the following matters:

Division of Marital Assets & Liabilities

When a couple gets divorced, they must determine who is allocated the assets and liabilities they acquired during their marriage. Minnesota is not a community property state. Minnesota is an equitable distribution state when it comes to dividing marital property and debts upon divorce. This means that marital property and obligations are not necessarily equally divided 50/50 like they might be in a community property state. Instead, courts consider various factors in how to “equitably” apportion the property in question.

Spousal Maintenance/Alimony

In divorce cases, one spouse might not have sufficient financial resources to cover their living expenses after their marriage ends. Under Minnesota law, such a spouse may be entitled to financial assistance from their former spouse—known as “spousal maintenance,” “spousal support,” or “alimony.”

Child Custody + Support

Suppose a divorcing couple had a child together who has not reached adulthood by the time of their separation. In that case, they must determine their respective rights and responsibilities regarding the child’s physical care and upbringing. In all cases the parents have a duty to provide their child with financial support.

Key Benefits of Divorce Mediation:

Faster Resolution: Mediation allows you to set your own pace, avoiding lengthy court delays.
Cost-Effective: Mediation typically costs less than a traditional, contested divorce.
Control & Flexibility: You decide the terms of your divorce, with the help of a neutral mediator.
Preserve Relationships: Ideal for parents, mediation fosters cooperation and future co-parenting success.

Resolve Your Divorce Peacefully & Amicably – Call (320) 299-4249 to Speak With Our Minnesota Divorce Mediation Lawyer

Child Custody Mediation

Key Benefits of Child Custody Mediation:

Child Custody Mediation

Deciding whether to divorce or separate from your spouse or significant other is a major decision. In many cases, couples endure life with someone with whom they are not compatible to spare their children from the hardships of watching their parents split up. However, your personal happiness and the wellbeing of your children do not have to be mutually exclusive propositions.

Are you concerned about how divorce or custody litigation might affect your child? Get in touch with FairWell Family Law Mediation to discuss your case with an experienced Minnesota child custody mediator.

Our mediation team has experience negotiating disputes arising from issues of child custody in mediation settings. Through mediation, you can potentially save thousands in litigation expenses—as well as hours of time—all while sparing your child of the undue hardship that comes with going through a divorce or custody dispute.

How is child custody determinded in minnesota?

When the parents of a minor child decide to get a divorce—or are otherwise unmarried and separated—one of the most important issues to resolve involves how a child will spend time with their parents, or a parent’s responsibilities to care for their child.

Under Minnesota law, child custody is decided with the child’s best interests at heart. This means that a court will determine the child’s living arrangements based on their best interests. This means that even the child’s parents’ interests cannot be an overriding factor when resolving child custody issues.

In determining the child’s best interests, a judge will consider the following:

The parents’ wishes
The child’s preference, if the child is of sufficient age to have a mature opinion
The child’s primary caretaker
The child’s attachment with each parent
The child’s relationship with each parent, siblings, and any other person who may be involved in the child’s daily life
The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community
The amount of time the child has lived in a stable environment
The permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home

The child’s cultural background
The mental and physical health of all individuals involved. However, disability can’t determine the outcome unless the arrangement isn’t in the child’s best interests
Each parent’s ability to give the child love, affection, and guidance, and to continue educating the child about the family culture and religion/creed, if any
The effect of domestic abuse on the child that has occurred between the parents or between a parent and another individual
Each parent’s willingness to encourage and permit continued contact between the other parent and the child

What Can I Expect at Child Custody Mediation?

The most common topics discussed and resolved during child custody mediation are:

Both parents may be asked to prepare a short statement to bring to the initial session, outlining what they hope to achieve from mediation.

how to get full custody in minnesota

In order to get custody of your child in Minnesota, you must first meet the residency requirements, outlined by the Minnesota Courts as follows:

“The child must have lived in Minnesota with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least six (6) consecutive months (180 days) before starting the court process.”

In order to get full custody of your child in Minnesota – meaning you have sole custody – you will need to present a strong case to the judge proving that it is in your child’s best interest for you to have full custody and that it would be detrimental to the child for the other parent to have custody. This is why it’s so important to have an excellent child custody mediation attorney on your side.

Your Children Deserve The Best Possible Outcome. Call (320) 299-4249 Today to Speak With Our Minnesota Child Custody Mediation Lawyer

Child Support Mediation

Key Benefits of Child Support Mediation:

Child Support Mediation

Family law issues can be emotionally trying and legally complex. Issues regarding the financial support of minor children upon divorce or separation are among some of the most challenging the parties can potentially face. To help make sure you and your former spouse or significant other does not lose sight of what is most important, you should consider resolving your dispute through mediation.

At FairWell Family Law Mediation, our Minnesota child support mediation attorney has years of experience with various issues arising under Minnesota family law, including the determination of child support. Armed with such experience, we can guide you while negotiating the terms of a private settlement covering issues like child support.

Minnesota Law on Child Support

Every parent has a legal duty to provide their child with adequate financial support to secure essentials like food, shelter, health care, and education for them. This duty serves as the basis for child support. In cases where one parent is awarded physical custody of a child, the other parent—known as the noncustodial parent—generally must make child support payments.

The goal of child support is to help ensure that the child has the same financial resources as they would, had their parents decided not to separate or get divorced. A parent’s duty to pay child support is reflected as a percentage of their income.

Under Minnesota law, issues regarding the amount of child support a parent owes are decided in accordance with specific guidelines outlined under Minnesota statutory law. Generally, child support is calculated pursuant to the statutory guidelines. However, courts may deviate from those guidelines under certain circumstances.

Courts must consider the following factors when determining whether to deviate from the statutory child support guidelines:

Looking to negotiate your child support agreement? Call (320) 299-4249 to contact our Minnesota child support mediation lawyer.

Spousal Maintenance/Alimony Mediation

Key Benefits of Alimony Mediation:

Spousal Maintenance Mediation

Are you considering getting a divorce from your spouse? Do the costs of litigating a divorce worry you? If so, there may be an alternative way to resolve the issues in your divorce case. At FairWell Family Law Mediation, our team of family law mediators has experience providing clients with cost-effective solutions to resolving your disputes—including issues involving alimony (otherwise known as spousal maintenance).

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that allows the parties to take control of their conflict with little or no court intervention or supervision. Mediation proceedings are more informal than traditional courtroom litigation. In mediation, the job of negotiating and discussing issues is guided by a neutral third party with family law experience—known as a mediator.

Through divorce mediation, the parties can minimize the expenses of their divorce by taking the reigns on significant issues, such as the provision of spousal support after divorce. Similarly, child custody mediation and child support mediation can be used to reach agreements regarding your children’s well-being after divorce.

If successful, mediation results in a settlement agreement between the parties, the terms of which are incorporated by the court when it renders its final divorce orders. Our Minnesota alimony mediators are standing by to help.

Minnesota Spousal Maintenance

Under Minnesota law, a divorcing spouse may be entitled to spousal maintenance – sometimes called “alimony” or “spousal support” – if they lack adequate financial resources or property to cover their reasonable living expenses. A spouse’s reasonable living expenses are viewed in light of the standard of living the couple established during their marriage.

What Determines if a spouse gets alimony?

Courts consider the following factors when determining issues of alimony:

The financial resources of the spouse seeking support
The time required for the spouse to obtain employment
The marital standard of living
The length of the marriage
The lost employment opportunities of the spouse seeking support

How Long Do You Have To Be Married To Get Alimony in MN?

Although marriage length is one of many factors considered when determining alimony awards, there is no required marriage duration in order to receive temporary or short-term alimony in Minnesota and it is ultimately up to the judge’s discretion. However, in order to qualify for long-term or permanent alimony, the marriage needs to have lasted for 10 years or longer.

How Long Does Alimony Last in Minnesota?

The duration of alimony in MN depends on the type of order:

Temporary order – Only lasts as long as the divorce proceedings.
Short-term order – Lasts for a short time after the divorce is finalized, such as in situations where the receiving spouse needs to be supported while he or she finishes school or vocational/job training.
Permanent order – Typically awarded if the marriage has lasted at least 10 years and one party is unable to support him or herself.

Is Your Alimony Order Unfair? We Help Spouses Compromise Fair Deals. Call (320) 299-4249 Today to Speak With Our Minnesota Alimony Mediation Lawyer

Helping Families Find Fair Solutions Through

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is a way to settle disputes without litigation, such as through mediation. ADR is guided by a neutral third party who helps resolve areas of conflict. The most common forms of ADR in Minnesota are mediation, arbitration, and case evaluation. Fairwell Family Law Mediation focuses on meditation.

What Are the Advantages of ADR?

Alternative Dispute Resolution can:

Save you time and money
Be less stressful
Is confidential and private
Give you more control over the outcome of your case
Preserve or improve relationships, which is especially important in family law matters

PREPARING FOR SUCCESS

How to Prepare for Mediation

Mediation is a low-conflict method of negotiation arbitrated by an impartial third party with the intent of circumventing differences that could prevent a consensus. While there are other definitions of mediation, in the simplest terms, it generally means neutrally assisted negotiation. The provided definition of mediation gives participants some idea of what to expect, but it can still be challenging to know if and how to prepare for your negotiations. Depending on the matter being negotiated, it can be challenging to give general advice for how to prepare for a mediation, but here is some guidance to increase the likelihood you won’t be caught unprepared when the time comes.

Remain Flexible: You can try to prepare for every eventuality, but it’s important to realize that new topics and issues may arise that must be handled. You can’t be too rigid.
Practice Active Listening: Productive two-way communication requires active listening. To participate in the process, you need to listen to what the other side is saying and be prepared to respond accordingly.
Communicate Clearly: If you have points you hope to make and things you need to discuss, it’s helpful to write them down and plan your talking points. Communicating clearly begins with preparation, so think through what you want to share and plan.

Avoid Emotional Language and Triggers: If you are negotiating a sensitive topic, it’s best to avoid emotional language and known triggers that will derail the process. It can lead to unnecessary delays.
Prepare for the Process: Before you mediation, you will know the agenda for the negotiation. You aren’t going to be surprised by the negotiation topics. So, take advantage of this knowledge and prepare. Bring any necessary paperwork and materials you’ll need.
Use Your Resources: If you’re getting a divorce or negotiating support payments, you have the option to seek out professionals to help you prepare for your mediation. Experts like tax professionals, financial advisors, child specialists, and divorce mediation attorneys can help answer your questions as you prepare for your mediation.

Mediation offers parties reasonable and sound solutions that can lead to a far less conflictual experience. Because each side is working together to find answers and formulate plans on their terms often leads to better outcomes. Contact our Minnesota divorce mediation lawyer today and put your best foot forward.

Client Reviews

Why We Do What We Do

At Johnson/Turner, we do what we do because we believe in the power of making a positive impact on people’s lives. We know that legal challenges often come at the most difficult moments, and our mission is to guide you through those transitions with care, understanding, and expert support. Seeing our clients regain stability, protect their families, and build a better future is the reason we’re here.

"Incredible customer care team that met us at the scariest, hardest moments in life and carried us through. Attorney Eric Day and his paralegal/legal secretary team (Lauren and Jennifer) worked hard for us. They delivered professional, competent, timely, and effective counsel and administration. Most importantly, our cases were resolved in the best way possible; a way that makes us feel safe and prepared going forward."

"You guys were awesome the process was easy and fast and was very well explained. What i loved most was the communication."

"I spoke to three law firms when searching for someone to handle my autistic daughter's legal guardianship case. I felt everyone from customer retention/support to the lawyers and paralegals (Mike & Tara are a dream team) were amazingly friendly, knowledgeable, and really made me feel like we were all a team working to support my daughter's best interests. I liked the flat fee rate. It's nice to have no surprises bill wise."

"The staff is great, friendly, and hard working. They are the best and I would recommend this group to other family and friends. Denise, Robin, Kelly, Rachel and Lauren were awesome, great and enjoyful to work with. They were very professional and there was always someone to talk to on the phone to help us or answer questions. We had a great outcome of our case because of the great team we had. A huge thank you to everyone who we worked with."