Divorce Financial Mediation & Valuation Services
Why Financial Mediation?
Divorce is more than a legal issue—it’s a financial reckoning. If you’re dividing property, assessing support, or trying to protect your future, a divorce financial mediator gives you something no one else does: clarity without chaos.
As a neutral financial expert, I help individuals and couples organize their documents, understand what’s really on the table, and create a clear path forward—whether you’re working with attorneys, mediating independently, or representing yourself.
How is financial mediation different from traditional divorce mediation?
Traditional divorce mediation often focuses on mortgage planning or parenting plans, general settlement conversations. Financial mediation dives deep into the numbers—like business ownership, cash flow, alimony or child support calculations, and asset division. I act as a neutral financial expert, helping both parties understand the full financial picture and create realistic, sustainable agreements. You can still bring these outcomes to your attorney or legal mediator for final review or filing the final divorce agreement.
⚓ Control the Deal with Leverage & Timing⚓ Anchor the Deal
⚓ Control the Deal with Leverage & Timing⚓ Anchor the Deal
What’s Inside:
Step-by-step settlement offer framework
Financial checklists and property statement templates
Preliminary valuation strategies
Mediation prep scripts and communication tips
Strategies for divorcing a toxic or narcissistic spouse
Guidance for working with (or without) a team of professionals
Whether you're:
✔️ In mediation, trying to avoid litigation
✔️ Already in court but want to take back control
✔️ Divorcing someone who controls the money
✔️ Self-representing and need a solid financial roadmap
Get the tools to settle with strategy—not stress.
The smartest way to take control of your divorce is to Anchor the Deal with a clear, well-documented offer.
Work to prepare a settlement offer that stand up to scrutiny—especially in complex cases involving businesses, missing money, or narcissistic spouses. If you’re not sure whether you need a business valuation, a mediator, or an income/support analysis—start with a complimentary zoom call. We’ll guide you toward the right path based on your unique situation.
Expert Reports’ Impact: Bringing detailed and accurate expert reports to mediation can significantly strengthen your position. These reports not only provide concrete data but also boost your credibility and confidence in negotiation, especially when discussing complex assets like houses and businesses.
Negotiation strategies for presenting a settlement offer, the role of mediators in facilitating discussions, and how early preparation can save time, money, and emotional energy. With practical tips and expert insights, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the complexities of divorce settlements.
Divorce Financial Services
Below are the services we offer as a divorce mediator and valuation expert, tailored to clients Nationwide for Online Mediation Services and in-person mediation with offices in Missouri and Illinois.
Divorce Mediation (and Co-Mediation)
Whether you and your spouse want to avoid court—or your attorney has suggested mediation— we can guide you through the financial part of the process.
We help couples and mediators:
Understand what assets exist and what’s considered marital property
Create financial disclosures required for court
Calculate spousal and child support scenarios
Prepare a written summary of agreements for attorneys or the judge
🔹 Virtual and in-person sessions available
🔹 Co-mediation available with a second neutral
Business Valuation for Divorce
If one or both of you owns a business, you’ll need a fair and defensible value for the purposes of equitable distribution. I specialize in divorce business valuations that meet the standards of Missouri and Illinois courts, as well as Kansas, California, New York, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, South Carolina and more.
Services include:
Preliminary valuations for negotiation or mediation
Full valuation reports for litigation or court
Buyout scenarios and income analysis
Owner interviews and document review
🔹 I work with businesses of all sizes, including sole proprietorships, LLCs, partnerships, and closely held corporations.
Financial Disclosures & Income Analysis
Most divorces require both parties to fill out detailed financial disclosures. We help you complete yours accurately—and analyze the other party’s documents for clarity and completeness.
Services include:
Income and expense reports
Lifestyle analysis for support requests
Marital standard of living calculations
Cash flow and tax-adjusted income evaluations
🔹 Especially helpful for support calculations (alimony & child support) and strategy in high-conflict or high-income cases.
Other Divorce Mediation Services
Tracing Marital vs. Non-Marital Assets
Did you receive an inheritance? Own property before the marriage? Or deposit separate money into a joint account? We can help trace and categorize assets properly.
Services include:
Tracing separate property across time and accounts
Forensic reviews of bank, retirement, and brokerage accounts
Reimbursement calculations for premarital or gifted funds
Marital waste claims & hidden assets
Expert Witness Reports & Testimony
If your divorce is in litigation, we can serve as a neutral or retained expert, providing reports and testimony that are clear, credible, and courtroom-ready.
Services include:
Valuation reports
Income analysis
Asset tracing testimony
Assistance with deposition questions or strategy
🔹 Experienced in both Missouri and Illinois court systems - as well as many other states
Document Review & Mediation Strategy
Overwhelmed by what to bring or where to start? I offer consultation packages to:
Help you organize your documents
Prepare your own settlement offer or negotiation strategy
Get coaching before a mediation or court hearing
Prepare for depositions
Provide deposition questions for lawyers who are interviewing business owners
Guide individuals through the negotiation process with the book “Anchor the Deal” and other workshops and resources.
FAQs Divorce Financial Mediation Services
Is a divorce financial mediator the same as a lawyer?
No. A financial mediator focuses on organizing and evaluating your financial information, not giving legal advice. They can work alongside your attorney or help you mediate independently.
What if my spouse is hiding money?
We can help trace accounts, review lifestyle patterns, and flag discrepancies in income or spending for marital waste claims or further review by legal counsel.
Going through divorce? Learn how to build your own divorce settlement offer using financial disclosures, spreadsheets, and negotiation strategy. Discover what to include, how to deal with missing money, and why this step can help you avoid trial.
Can you still help if we don’t agree on anything?
Yes. Mediation is often most effective when couples feel stuck. As a neutral, I help you find clarity—even when emotions are high.
Can I use your services if I already have an attorney?
Absolutely. Many of my clients are already working with legal counsel but need neutral financial analysis to move negotiations forward. I collaborate with attorneys all the time—whether for business valuation, support calculations, or mediation prep. Think of me as your behind-the-scenes strategist, helping you organize your documents, know your numbers, and make smart financial decisions.
Do I need a business valuation if I already have an accountant?
Yes. Divorce valuations follow court standards and may differ from tax or internal accounting values. A qualified valuation expert ensures your numbers hold up in mediation and family court.
Do I need a lawyer to prepare a settlement offer?
No. You can start with a DIY settlement offer using our tools and work with a limited scope attorney only when needed.
Melissa Gragg demonstrates how to use her proprietary spreadsheet to organize assets, debts, and financial data to create a clear and effective settlement offer.