services
Parenting consultant - Initial deposit $8000, $375/hour
The role of Parenting Consultant is a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) that allows parties, by agreement, to create an ADR process. It is a method of ADR in which a neutral professional, agreed upon by both parties and part of a Court Order, assists families experiencing high levels of conflict in resolving issues they cannot agree upon. The Parenting Consultant uses negotiation techniques to help resolve issues without the cost and sometimes lengthy wait of addressing them in Court, which many parents prefer. The Parenting Consultant offers parents an opportunity to resolve the conflict before making a decision within the scope of the court order or appointment contract. From a broader standpoint, the goal of the Parent Consultant is to assist high-conflict parents in following their parenting plan, monitoring compliance with the details, resolving conflicts in a timely manner, and supporting a healthy, meaningful relationship between the child and both parents.
Parent Coach - $275 Per session. (pay in advance for 6 sessions & receive 5% discount). Standing appointments available.
Parent Coaching services via Zoom (super flexible hours) are open to the highest conflict parents, those families with mental health and substance use dynamics, or any client who may need coaching to get through a bumpy time before, during, or after the dissolution process, or may need skill building in parenting, self-care, and other areas of personal management.
🔘 Clients learn how to communicate (write, speak, non-verbal) more effectively without creating or stepping into conflict.
🔘 Flip the script (reframe problem mindset to a solution mindset). Bring in new skills to shift the dynamic.
🔘 Provide family systems education and how to apply that knowledge to effectively navigate conflict and the "new normal" of a two-parent household.
🔘 Build parenting skills in the context of separation/divorce.
🔘 Case management: Working with Parent Consultants, Attorneys, Therapists, and other Court-Involved professionals.
🔘 Safe and inclusive space 🌏💫
Mediation (Custody and Parenting Time only) $375/hour
Evaluative mediation (Custody and parenting time only) $375/hour
Mediations can be scheduled in 2- or 4-hour sessions and conducted remotely via Zoom or in-person under certain circumstances. The purpose of mediation is to offer parents a confidential opportunity to creatively explore ideas and reach agreements that are in the best interests of the children, thereby providing the best chance for successful co-parenting.
Social Early Neutral Evaluations (fees calculated per court order)
A Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE) is a confidential, court-connected process used in Minnesota to assist parents in resolving disputes regarding custody and parenting time early in a family court case. During a structured, typically single-session meeting, each parent has the opportunity to present their perspective, after which neutral evaluators ask questions, briefly deliberate, and provide non-binding feedback based on the statutory best interests of the child factors. This process is designed to give parents an informed, realistic understanding of how their case may be viewed by the court, often facilitating resolution without the need for a full custody evaluation or litigation. SENE is efficient, cost-effective, child-focused, and promotes timely decision-making while allowing parents to retain control over the outcome if an agreement is reached.
Child Inclusive Mediations - Child specialist/mediator $375/hour
Parents who are interested in incorporating the voice of their child(ren) in the mediation process may use this option to help inform their decision-making process. Parenting time plans are designed to evolve according to the child's developmental needs. It is not uncommon for children to start expressing a desire to change their parenting schedule, which is especially true as they enter high school. A child specialist will conduct a neutral interview with the parents and child(ren) and provide feedback during the mediation session. The child specialist does not serve as the mediator.
Custody and parenting time evaluations (aka Parenting Plan Evaluations)
Initial retainer $12,000 - $375/hour (per availability - please contact Diane directly).
If you and the other parent of the children are unable to agree on custody and parenting time, you may agree to participate in a custody and parenting time evaluation. A custody and parenting time evaluation consists of an investigation and considering each of the statutory Best Interest Factors and may culminate with a full written analysis and recommendations. The process can last anywhere from 3 to 7 months and includes interviews with both parents, the children (if age-appropriate), gathering information from outside sources, and a home visit with both parties. The purpose of the home visit is to evaluate the parent-child relationship. It is not intended to evaluate the home, neighborhood, or other factors unrelated to the child's safety. In some cases, both parties will be referred for psychological or substance abuse evaluations by a psychologist chosen by the evaluator. The following Minnesota Statute 518.167, The best interests of the child. This provides a consistent method for evaluating the child's needs and the co-parenting relationship, and for assisting parents or the Court with information to consider in the decision-making process.
These factors must be considered independent of one another and collectively as a whole and will include:
The child’s physical, emotional, cultural, spiritual, and other needs, and the effect of the proposed arrangements on the child’s needs and development;
Any special medical, mental health, or educational needs that the child may have that may require special parenting arrangements or access to recommended services;
The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient ability, age, and maturity to express an independent, reliable preference;
Whether domestic abuse, as defined in section 518B.01, has occurred in the parents’ or either parent’s household or relationship; the nature and context of the domestic abuse; and the implications of the domestic abuse for parenting for the child’s safety, well-being, and developmental needs;
Any physical, mental, or chemical health issue of a parent that affects the child’s safety or developmental needs;
The history and nature of each parent’s participation in providing care for the child;
The willingness and ability of each parent to provide ongoing are for the child; to meet the child’s ongoing developmental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs; and to maintain consistency and follow through with parenting time;
The effect on the child’s well-being and development of changes to home, school, and community;
The effect of the proposed arrangements on the ongoing relationships between the child and each parent, siblings, and other significant persons in the child’s life;
The benefit to the child in maximizing parenting time with both parents and the detriment to the child in limiting parenting time with either parent;
except in cases in which domestic abuse as described in clause (4) has occurred, the disposition of each parent to support the child’s relationship and to encourage and permit frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent, and;
The willingness and ability of parents to cooperate in the rearing their child; to maximize sharing information and minimize exposure of the child to parental conflict; and to utilize methods for resolving disputes regarding any major decision concerning the life the of the child.
As each of the above factors are considered and weighted in the formation of the custody evaluators opinions, any concerns raised by either parent will be investigated to the best ability of the evaluator and information will be sought to confirm or disconfirm the allegations made. In order to do this most effectively, parents will be asked to sign releases of information for “collateral” information. Once the evaluation is complete, Diane will meet with attorneys to provide feedback and recommendations if the parties are interested in engaging in settlement before requesting a written report.
Brief focused assessment. Hourly rate: $375.00 (deposit amount estimate based on complexity of the assessment) - Contact Diane directly for a consultation to identify specific questions to be addressed.
A Brief Focused Assessment (BFA) is a narrowly tailored evaluation designed to address specific questions identified by the court in parenting time or custody disputes. Unlike a comprehensive custody evaluation, a BFA is limited in scope and relies on targeted data collection to provide timely, issue-specific information to assist judicial decision-making. The process is descriptive, focusing only on the identified concerns rather than offering a broad analysis of family functioning or parenting capacity.
Due to these limitations, a BFA does not include global custody recommendations, extensive psychological analysis, or conclusions that extend beyond the available data. Opinions and recommendations are confined to the referral question(s), and the assessment is not a substitute for a full custody evaluation when more comprehensive information is necessary. This focused approach allows for efficiency and clarity, while maintaining appropriate boundaries regarding the scope and weight of the findings. (
Consulting Expert - mental health, substance abuse, family systems, parenting: $375/hour (total estimate dependent upon complexity)
The purpose of expert consultation is to provide attorneys and their clients with access to professional advice from a mental health and parenting expert at the time they are making decisions about the direction and management of a family law matter.