Divorce Mediation in Lehigh County, PA
A Cooperative Path to Resolution in Lehigh County
A Cooperative Path to Resolution in Lehigh County
At New Hope Divorce Mediation, we help divorcing and separating spouses in Lehigh County work through their divorce in a structured, respectful environment. Mediation is a process where both participants meet together with a neutral mediator to discuss and resolve important issues including parenting, finances, property, and planning for the future. Unlike traditional divorce proceedings, mediation is participant-driven, and both participants retain full control over their decisions and the pace of the process. We serve families across the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, supporting participants as they build agreements that address their real needs and priorities.
Divorce Made Straightforward
Our process is designed to make mediation as simple, efficient, and stress-free as possible.
Understanding the NHDM Divorce Mediation Process
Mediation offers an alternative to the traditional adversarial approach to divorce. Instead of each spouse hiring an attorney to argue on their behalf, both participants sit down together with a mediator whose role is to facilitate productive, well-informed conversation. The mediator remains neutral throughout the process, ensuring that each person is heard and that discussions stay focused and respectful. Mediators do not provide legal advice or advocate for either participant. They offer structure, relevant information, and perspective that helps both spouses evaluate their choices with greater clarity. The process is grounded in each participant’s interests rather than positions, which opens the door to solutions they could not achieve through litigation.
How NHDM Divorce Mediation Works in Lehigh County
The mediation process opens with both participants sharing relevant financial information and sharing any preliminary agreements they may have already discussed. The first session establishes the framework for the work ahead. The mediator helps both spouses identify the issues that need to be addressed and verifies the details of shared assets and debts. In subsequent sessions, the mediator guides discussions about property division, financial obligations, parenting arrangements, and communication planning. These conversations are structured to ensure both participants can express their concerns, explore alternatives, and make decisions at a pace that suits them. Each session advances the work completed previously, building steadily toward a comprehensive agreement. When all issues have been resolved, the mediator prepares your Marital Settlement Agreement and Custody Stipulation for review and approval. After you sign your Agreements, we will assist you in moving forward with the pro se filing process with the Court so you can obtain your Divorce Decree. All discussions in mediation are confidential.
The Benefits of NHDM Divorce Mediation for Families in Lehigh County
Families in Lehigh County choose the NHDM mediation process for its emphasis on cooperation, efficiency, and participant control. Mediation avoids the prolonged timelines and escalating costs of litigation. It gives both spouses a direct role in shaping the terms of their separation, which typically produces outcomes that both parties find more workable and sustainable. For families with children, mediation offers the added benefit of modeling cooperative problem-solving during a difficult transition. The process is conducted in a confidential setting, operates on a flexible schedule, and moves at whatever pace the participants determine is appropriate. Rather than framing divorce as a contest with winners and losers, mediation treats it as a set of decisions that both individuals can make thoughtfully and together.
Serving Families Across Lehigh County
New Hope Divorce Mediation works with participants across Lehigh County and the broader Lehigh Valley, including communities such as Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Center Valley, and Fountain Hill. Sessions can be conducted in person or online to fit participants’ needs and preferences. For families in the Lehigh Valley who want a practical, respectful approach to divorce, mediation provides a way to address difficult questions in a setting designed for clarity and cooperation. Each couple brings a different set of circumstances, but our aim is always consistent: to help both individuals understand their options and create a plan that works for their family.
Why Participants in Lehigh County Choose New Hope Divorce Mediation
Participants across the Lehigh Valley choose New Hope Divorce Mediation for our consistent focus on neutrality, thoroughness, efficiency, and respect for both individuals. Our mediators bring a steady, attentive approach to every session, creating conditions where both participants can engage openly and work through differences without escalation. We do not make recommendations, take sides, or offer legal advice. What we do is provide a clear process, relevant context, and the kind of careful facilitation that helps people think through complex decisions with confidence. Our experience working with families across a wide range of circumstances has reinforced our belief that most couples can reach efficient, well-informed, lasting agreements when given the right structure and support.
Meet Our Pennsylvania Attorney-Mediator
Josh Kershenbaum, Esq.
Josh is an attorney-mediator with 25 years of experience in conflict resolution and special education law. He is renowned for his innovative Disability-Informed Mediation approach, helping families and institutions navigate complex disputes through compassionate, collaborative strategies.
Meet Our TeamNext Steps: Scheduling a Free Informational Call
If you are considering divorce mediation in Lehigh County or the Lehigh Valley, we invite you to schedule a free informational call with New Hope Divorce Mediation. This conversation provides an opportunity to understand how the process works and to determine whether mediation may suit your circumstances. There is no obligation to proceed and no legal advice will be offered. The goal is simply to give you the information you need to take the next step with confidence.
Every mediation session is a step toward resolution, understanding, and a clearer path ahead. At New Hope Divorce Mediation, we help participants in Lehigh County navigate the complexities of divorce with patience and focus, working toward agreements that honor both participants’ needs. Through a process built on respect and collaboration, participants can approach the future with clarity and assurance.
What are the steps in the divorce mediation process?
The process begins with a consultation where you will have the opportunity to meet with one of our attorney-mediators free of charge to determine whether this is the right process for you. We explain and discuss the mediation process in detail so that you can make an informed decision about how you want to proceed. During mediation sessions, you and the mediator identify and discuss the various issues you need to resolve and explore options and possibilities for how to resolve them. Your attorney-mediator will provide information about the law which is relevant to your issues and information to help you reach agreements that meet all your needs. When you have reached agreement on all issues, your attorney-mediator will draft your Marital Settlement Agreement and Custody Agreement for your review. After your attorney-mediator has drafted your agreements, you may meet to review the draft so that you are comfortable that the formal agreements properly reflect your understanding.
Does divorce mediation require a retainer?
Some mediators charge a retainer and an hourly rate. We do not. We charge a set fee for the entire divorce mediation process. You will know what the set fee is at the conclusion of your initial consultation prior to you making any commitment to the divorce mediation process.
How can we be productive when we can’t talk to each other?
The presence of a trained divorce attorney-mediator dramatically changes the interpersonal dynamics of the divorcing couple. An experienced attorney-mediator has the skills necessary to foster constructive communication. Through the process, you come to understand that it’s in the best interests of your family to work together to reach an acceptable settlement. Your attorney-mediator facilitates the communication and provides neutral, relevant legal information and experience to assist you with your negotiation and resolution process. Your attorney-mediator will provide information about the legal system, how issues may be viewed by lawyers or judges, and the options and alternatives to help you resolve difficult issues.
Will we have to appear in court?
We have offices in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. No court appearances are necessary by either party for mediation in Pennsylvania. In New Jersey, one party might need to appear as the final step in the process to obtain your final Judgment of Divorce, but this is often not required. Your attorney-mediator will explain this simple process.
How does divorce mediation differ from going to court?
Divorce litigation is an adversarial process where attorneys argue for their client, which often leads to more court appearances and hurt feelings. Divorce attorneys exchange information through complex discovery procedures which could take years to complete. The divorce litigation process is very adversarial and geared toward winning at the expense of the opposing side. Litigation generally takes years and tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. Divorce mediation enables you to work together to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Your attorney-mediator will coach, educate and guide you through your concerns and options. There is less fighting and more problem solving so you may focus on your real needs and the best interests of your children. Mediation allows you to retain control over the process and have a hand in making your own well-informed decisions about your life and your family rather than having a judge or attorneys decide your future.
When should we begin divorce mediation?
Sooner rather than later, so it is best to begin when you decide to divorce. Mediation will save you time, money and heartache. Sometimes, a couple comes to mediation out of frustration with the legal system after the emotional and financial toll, and disillusionment with the lack of progress after so much time and money has been lost. They often say they wish they had used mediation from the beginning.
Areas We Serve
- Abington, PA
- Allentown, PA
- Ambler, PA
- Bala Cynwyd, PA
- Bensalem, PA
- Bethlehem, PA
- Bloomsburg, PA
- Blue Bell, PA
- Bridgewater, NJ
- Bryn Mawr, PA
- Bucks County, PA
- Center Valley, PA
- Chester County, PA
- Conshohocken, PA
- Delaware County, PA
- Doylestown, PA
- Easton, PA
- Exton, PA
- Fort Washington, PA
- Fountain Hill, PA
- Glenside, PA
- Haverford, PA
- Havertown, PA
- Horsham, PA
- Huntingdon Valley, PA
- Jamison, PA
- King of Prussia, PA
- Langhorne, PA
- Lansdale, PA
- Lehigh County, PA
- Lehigh Valley, PA
- Levittown, PA
- Malvern, PA
- Marlton, NJ
- Media, PA
- Montgomery County, PA
- Montgomeryville, PA
- Morrisville, PA
- New Hope, PA
- Newtown Square, PA
- Newtown, PA
- Norristown, PA
- Paoli, PA
- Perkasie, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenixville, PA
- Plumsteadville, PA
- Plymouth Meeting, PA
- Princeton, NJ
- Quakertown, PA
- Radnor, PA
- Richboro, PA
- Springfield, PA
- Swarthmore, PA
- Warminster, PA
- Warrington, PA
- Wayne, PA
- West Chester, PA
- Willow Grove, PA
- Yardley, PA
We Are Here to Help
Our team has the experience to guide you through the process.
Whether you are just starting to think about divorce or are ready to begin the mediation process, our team is here to answer your questions and support your next steps. We serve participants throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, offering both virtual and in-person mediation sessions for your convenience.