The timeline of conscious family mediation.
Conscious Family divorce mediation is a full-service process that can begin at any time, whether or not you have separated or filed with a court. Here is every stage, from your first consultation to the final court decree.
Every stage, start to finish
The process moves at the pace that is right for your family.
Step 01
Mediation consult
A chance for you both to learn the mediator’s background and philosophy, understand how the firm operates, get a roadmap of the legal process for divorce or legal separation, and ask how Colorado divorce law affects the way you proceed.
Step 02
Intention session
Together you review our Rules of Engagement and make commitments about how you will show up for one another, your children, and — perhaps most importantly — yourself.
Step 03
Financial exchange
Spouses exchange the data and records needed to complete the court-required Sworn Financial Statements — asset values (or debts), monthly gross income, and monthly expenses. A brief orientation session with your mediator plans for special assets, checks nothing is missing, and sets the date you will both exchange by.
Step 04
Mediation session(s)
Your mediator helps you identify the options, analyze the issues together, and reach a mutually satisfactory resolution. Most families with children need 2–3 sessions.
Step 05
Formalize agreements and court filing
From your mediation sessions we prepare the necessary court forms for your review and signing, then give you filing instructions. Conscious Family clients usually open the court case only after reaching a complete agreement.
Step 06
Non-contested hearing
An Initial Status Conference is scheduled about 6 weeks after you file your Petition. Without a full settlement on file, that conference is where the court sets any hearing on temporary matters, a final trial date around 4–6 months out, and the trial deadlines. File all your settlement documents beforehand and it converts to a “non-contested hearing” — likely your only required court appearance. (With no children, or a lawyer’s signature for each party on the settlement, you can file a motion asking the court to issue the order without you appearing at all.)
Step 07
Issuance of final court decree
Filing a Petition starts a statutory 91-day waiting period. A court cannot issue a divorce decree until it has elapsed.
Step 01
Mediation consult
A chance for you both to learn the mediator’s background and philosophy, understand how the firm operates, get a roadmap of the legal process for divorce or legal separation, and ask how Colorado divorce law affects the way you proceed.
Step 02
Intention session
Together you review our Rules of Engagement and make commitments about how you will show up for one another, your children, and — perhaps most importantly — yourself.
Step 03
Financial exchange
Spouses exchange the data and records needed to complete the court-required Sworn Financial Statements — asset values (or debts), monthly gross income, and monthly expenses. A brief orientation session with your mediator plans for special assets, checks nothing is missing, and sets the date you will both exchange by.
Step 04
Mediation session(s)
Your mediator helps you identify the options, analyze the issues together, and reach a mutually satisfactory resolution. Most families with children need 2–3 sessions.
Step 05
Formalize agreements and court filing
From your mediation sessions we prepare the necessary court forms for your review and signing, then give you filing instructions. Conscious Family clients usually open the court case only after reaching a complete agreement.
Step 06
Non-contested hearing
An Initial Status Conference is scheduled about 6 weeks after you file your Petition. Without a full settlement on file, that conference is where the court sets any hearing on temporary matters, a final trial date around 4–6 months out, and the trial deadlines. File all your settlement documents beforehand and it converts to a “non-contested hearing” — likely your only required court appearance. (With no children, or a lawyer’s signature for each party on the settlement, you can file a motion asking the court to issue the order without you appearing at all.)
Step 07
Issuance of final court decree
Filing a Petition starts a statutory 91-day waiting period. A court cannot issue a divorce decree until it has elapsed.
Before your intention session, read our Rules of Engagement. Curious how the court route compares? See the timeline of a conventional divorce case.
The typical Conscious Family mediation timeline.
Ready to map your own timeline?
A free intro call is the easiest first step.
