January 2004
Written by CMDR Staff
Frequently Asked Questions about Your Memorandum of Understanding
One of our distinguishing features at the Centre for Mediation & Dispute Resolution is the complexity and thoroughness of our Memorandum of Understanding. When a couple leaves our office with their agreement, they can be sure they have a document that will endure throughout their lives.
As you begin to research mediators, please be sure to compare our end product with that of our competitors.
Answers to Some Frequently Asked Questions about Your Memorandum of Understanding
Your mediation sessions are done. With the guidance and expertise of your mediator, you’ve come up with strategies, terms and conditions upon which you both agree. If you have children, you have covered every “what if” from custody to college. Your mediator has helped you to plan for the present and anticipate the future. Now your mediator will craft your agreement–the most important document of your life.
At the Centre for Mediation & Dispute Resolution, we want you to understand the work involved in drafting your agreement. To this end, we have put together the answers to some commonly asked questions.
Are the Session Notes* The Agreement?
Drafting an agreement is similar to producing a term paper or even a book. Your session notes provide the data for your agreement, in a sense, the backbone. The actual document will appear in a much different format.
The mediator’s task is to produce a comprehensive and readable text, which clearly reflects your agreements and provides you with a roadmap for dealing with each other now and in the future. If you would like to take a look at a sample MOU, please let us know.
How long (# Pages) is an Agreement?
An average agreement is between 30 and 60 pages. A sample Table of Contents is attached to give you an idea of the information covered in your agreement. Although there are specific areas of the law that must be covered in every divorce agreement, yours is a unique document. The details provided by you and your spouse determine the length of each section.
How long before our Agreement is ready?
Most agreements take about 3 to 4 weeks depending upon the complexity of the agreement, the number of agreements being drafted at a particular time, and when the mediator is able to begin to draft the document.
How much will our Agreement cost?
This question is difficult to answer since at CMDR we do not produce “boilerplate” agreements. Your mediator will be able to provide you with an estimate. However, until the agreement is actually drafted, it is not possible to have a precise figure.
*After the first few mediation sessions, your mediator will write up notes of what has been discussed and what missing information is needed as well as action items that need to be done to complete your agreement. These “Session Notes” become the data used to draft your agreement.
Download a Sample Table of Contents of one of our Agreements: Click Here
Please Call Our Office For Answers To Your Questions – 781.239.1600
