Mediation

Rule 31 Certified TN Family Law Mediator

Serving Blount, Knox and the surrounding counties. Court-ordered and voluntary mediation services. In-person, travel & by Zoom available.

What Is Mediation?

Mediation is a structured conversation, led by a neutral third party, that helps two sides reach an agreement without handing the decision to a judge. In Tennessee, it’s required before most contested divorce and custody cases can go to trial, but it’s far more than a box to check. Done well, it settles the matters that affect your family most without the cost, delay, and damage of a courtroom fight, and it keeps the outcome in your hands instead of a stranger’s. Most cases that complete mediation never see a courtroom.

A few things worth knowing before you go in:

Mediation is not court. Nothing is decided for you unless you agree to it. The mediator cannot take sides and cannot impose an outcome.

What it actually is: a structured process to help both parties reach an agreement they can genuinely live with, without a judge making the decision.

What happens in the room: You’ll typically start together, then move into separate sessions where the mediator works between parties. You are not required to be in the same room as the other party throughout.

Going in prepared makes a real difference. Know your non-negotiables. Know where you have flexibility. Your attorney should have that conversation with you before you walk in.

Credentials

• Rule 31 Certified TN Family Law Mediator: certified through the Tennessee Supreme Court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission
• 10+ Years Family Law Experience: I practice what I mediate
• Blount County based: available locally and by Zoom or travel arrangement

If You’re an Attorney With a Client Who Needs Mediation

I’m a Rule 31 Certified Mediator with over a decade of family law experience. I understand the local courts, I understand what opposing counsel needs, and I run a mediation process that moves cases forward.

What this looks like in practice:

• Court-ordered and voluntary mediation
• Divorce and custody matters, the bulk of what goes through our local courts
• Professional, organized, and on time
• Available in Maryville/Alcoa; travel available for cases outside the region
• Zoom mediation available when appropriate

If you have a client who needs mediation scheduled, use the booking link below. When you book, or by email to paralegal@dcbakerlaw.com, send a brief case summary and the primary disputed issues. It makes the session more productive for everyone.

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What to Expect

You need a mediator who arrives prepared, runs a structured process, and gets cases resolved. Here is what to expect.

Before the session:

I review your submissions ahead of time. I understand what the contested issues are before anyone walks in the room. This is not a mediator who reads your summary for the first time when I sit down.

During the session:

Joint opening session when it’s productive. Private caucuses throughout. I move between parties with a clear read on where the room is and what movement is actually realistic. I bring proposals to the table when the parties need direction. I don’t let sessions stall.

Closing:

When an agreement is reached, it is documented the same day.

Scheduling:

Call the office or use the booking link below. Please send a brief case summary and the primary disputed issues to paralegal@dcbakerlaw.com before the session, it makes the time more productive for everyone. Don’t see the day or time you need? Call the office to see if we can work you in.

(865) 233-4595 | paralegal@dcbakerlaw.com

Rates

Mediation is billed at $250 per hour with a two-hour minimum. Sessions are typically split between parties unless other arrangements are made. For questions about scheduling, rates, or logistics, call the office directly at (865) 233-4595.