Family financial mediation
Property, Alimony, and Support Mediation in North Carolina
Certified family financial mediator Christopher Adkins helps spouses divide property and debt and resolve alimony and child support, in private mediation or court-ordered mediated settlement conferences.
Family financial mediation in North Carolina
Money issues are often the hardest part of a separation. North Carolina’s Family Financial Settlement (FFS) program gives district court judges authority to order spouses into a mediated settlement conference to resolve equitable distribution, alimony, postseparation support, child support, and claims arising out of contracts between the parties, such as a prenuptial or separation agreement. Christopher Adkins is certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a family financial mediator, so he can be selected by agreement of the parties or appointed by the court in these cases. Spouses can also hire him privately before anything is filed.
Issues we mediate
Equitable distribution
Identifying marital, separate, and divisible property; valuing assets as of the date of separation; and deciding who keeps what. North Carolina starts from a presumption that an equal division is equitable, though the court may deviate for statutory reasons.
The marital home
Keeping, selling, or buying out the house, refinancing deadlines, who pays the mortgage while the case is pending, and how equity is shared.
Retirement and pensions
401(k) and IRA divisions, state and military pensions, and the retirement orders needed to divide plans without taxes or penalties.
Postseparation support and alimony
Temporary and long-term support, including amount, duration, lump-sum options, and how support interacts with the property division.
Child support
Guideline calculations, health insurance, work-related childcare, extracurricular costs, and deviations when the guidelines do not fit.
Businesses and debt
Closely held companies, professional practices, credit cards, tax liabilities, and student loans.
What to expect at a mediated settlement conference
- Selection or appointment. The parties may designate a certified family financial mediator by agreement. If they do not, the court appoints one. The court’s order sets a deadline for completing the conference, generally no more than 150 days after the order unless extended.
- Preparation. Each side exchanges financial information, and attorneys often prepare an equitable distribution inventory or proposed schedules. Good preparation is the single biggest factor in a productive conference.
- Attendance. The parties and their attorneys must attend unless excused by the court. Special arrangements can be made for victims of domestic violence.
- The conference. The mediator facilitates negotiation, often in separate rooms, and helps each side weigh settlement options against the cost and uncertainty of trial.
- The result. If agreement is reached, it is put in writing and signed. Property agreements not submitted to the court for approval must be formally acknowledged, as North Carolina law requires. The mediator then reports the outcome to the court.
Fees: when the court appoints the mediator, North Carolina’s FFS rules set the mediator’s compensation, currently $150 per hour plus a one-time $175 administrative fee, generally paid in equal shares unless the parties agree or the court orders otherwise. When you select a mediator yourselves, the fee is set by agreement. Call or text (704) 231-5762 for our current private rates.
Deadlines that protect your claims
Equitable distribution and alimony claims in North Carolina generally must be filed, or otherwise preserved, before a judgment of absolute divorce is entered. Mediating a settlement does not stop that clock unless your agreement and filings address it. Talk with an attorney about timing before your absolute divorce hearing.
South Carolina property and support mediation
South Carolina divides marital property through what its statutes call equitable apportionment, and most contested family court issues must be mediated before trial under the state’s ADR rules. Christopher Adkins is certified as a South Carolina family court mediator and mediates for York County families in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Lake Wylie.
Talk with a mediator about your situation
Mediation Solutions helps families, businesses, and litigants in Huntersville, Charlotte, Locust, Albemarle, Rock Hill, and Fort Mill resolve disputes privately. Call or text to ask about scheduling, fees, and whether mediation fits your case.
Offices: 9620 Sherrill Estates Road, Huntersville, NC 28078 · 217 W. Main Street, Locust, NC 28097 · Virtual sessions available.
Frequently asked questions
Can we mediate property division before one of us files a lawsuit?
Yes. Private mediation can resolve property, debt, and support issues before litigation, and the agreement can be written as a separation and property settlement agreement.
What documents should we gather?
At minimum: recent statements for bank, investment, and retirement accounts; mortgage and loan statements; tax returns; pay stubs; and a list of personal property and vehicles. See our document checklist article for a complete list.
Is alimony always part of a North Carolina divorce?
No. Alimony depends on whether one spouse is dependent and the other supporting, among many factors. Mediation lets spouses decide whether, how much, and for how long support will be paid.
What happens if the conference ends at impasse?
The mediator reports the impasse to the court and the case proceeds. Even then, parties often settle some issues and narrow what remains for trial.