Family Law Mediation in North Carolina

Serving Boone and surrounding counties

North Carolina mountain scenery

Let’s get out of the courtroom.

Let’s mediate.

Deirdre A. Farrington: Mediator in Boone, NC

With more than 20 years of experience as a family law attorney and mediator certified in family financial mediation by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, I’m passionate about helping families resolve challenges.

I can help you settle family matters, including finances, divorce, and custody. I offer mediation in North Carolina, serving the following counties: 

  • Ashe

  • Avery

  • Mitchell

  • Watauga

  • Yancey

About Mediation

Mediation is an alternative to the stress and expense of fighting in court.

I’m trained to resolve disputes and certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Center as a family financial mediator. I can work with you as a neutral person to explore solutions that suit your family, with or without an attorney.

In mediation, parties meet with a neutral third party (the mediator) in a safe environment to create a settlement unique to their family situation. As a mediator, I can facilitate the discussion of issues so the parties can find a path to agreement. This process places the decision-making power in the parties’ hands—your hands.

Mediation in North Carolina: FAQs

Solving family matters can be overwhelming and confusing. As an experienced mediator, I can help make the process easier. Below are answers to common questions about mediation.

  • During mediation, the mediator asks questions to help each side identify their priorities. The mediator may make suggestions, engage in brainstorming, or play “devil’s advocate” to help the parties consider possible solutions. If the parties come to an agreement, a record of that agreement will be created.

    Parties in a dispute may be ordered by the Court to attend mediation, or they may choose to come to a mediator even before a lawsuit is filed. Either way, the mediator and parties come together to work on a solution. If the parties have hired lawyers, the lawyers will attend as well.

  • You can participate in mediation even if you don’t have a lawyer. Although I’m not permitted as a mediator to give legal advice to any party, we can still use the same techniques to work through the issues in the case.

  • The cost of mediation in NC varies, but it can be much less expensive than having a judge hear your case since hearings and trials are very time-consuming.

    If your case is ordered to mediation, the fee as set by the Court is $150 per hour plus an administrative fee of $175, which is shared equally by the parties unless the parties agree otherwise. If you choose mediation prior to a court order, my rate is $175 per hour plus the same $175 administrative fee, which is also shared equally by the parties unless agreed otherwise.