Coming soon. Strata Family Law is building a structured mediation practice designed to help families reach respectful, durable resolutions outside the courtroom.
Mediation isn’t a softer version of litigation. Done well, it’s a structured process where both parties reach a resolution they can live with — often faster, less expensively, and with less damage to ongoing relationships than a contested court outcome.
Washington courts strongly encourage mediation in family law cases. Most cases that settle — and most family law cases do settle — settle through some form of negotiation or mediation rather than trial. The question is rarely whether to mediate. It’s how to mediate well.
Strata Family Law is in the process of launching a structured mediation service to complement our representation practice. Our approach emphasizes preparation, clear framing, and practical resolution over performative conflict.
Our mediation service will be structured around pre-session preparation, facilitated joint sessions, private caucuses where appropriate, and clear documentation of agreements reached. We’ll work with represented and pro se parties alike.
In the meantime, our attorneys regularly represent clients in mediation with other mediators — and we’re available to discuss whether your case is a candidate for mediation.
“Court is the backstop, not the plan.”
— Riley Moos, PartnerIn court, a judge who doesn't know your family decides. In mediation, you and the other party decide — guided by counsel and a neutral, but ultimately in your hands.
When co-parents have to work together for years after the case ends, how the case ends matters. Mediated outcomes preserve the relationships that litigation often damages.
Most mediated cases resolve in weeks or months — not the 12-18 months a contested trial often takes. The cost savings typically match.
Mediation isn't right for every case. When it is right, it's often the best path:
Most divorces can mediate property division, debt allocation, and spousal support where both parties are willing to negotiate in good faith.
Co-parents who can work together benefit significantly from mediation — the resulting plan tends to be more workable and more durable than a judge-imposed schedule.
Modification cases, particularly ones where both parties agree change is needed but disagree on specifics, often resolve in mediation.
Pre- and postnuptial agreement terms can be mediated when both parties want an agreement but differ on specifics.
High-conflict cases with safety concerns, domestic violence, or significant power imbalances may not be appropriate for mediation. We assess fit carefully.
Before we tell you what we think, we hear what you're facing.
→You should understand the legal landscape before you make decisions in it.
→A real plan with real contingencies — not a template.
→Inside the courtroom, at the negotiation table, and everywhere in between.
→You'll never wonder what's happening in your case.
→The case ends. Your life continues. We plan for both.
→Strata's dedicated mediation service is launching soon. In the meantime, our attorneys represent clients in mediation with other mediators and can assess whether your case is a candidate for mediation generally.
Most clients who mediate benefit from having counsel advise them before, during, and after the mediation. Mediators are neutral — they facilitate, but they don't advocate for you. Counsel ensures you understand what you're agreeing to.
Then the case proceeds through other channels — further negotiation, settlement conference, or trial. Mediation communications are generally confidential, so nothing said in mediation comes back to haunt you if mediation doesn't succeed.
Many Washington counties require some form of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation, before trial. The specific requirements vary by county and case type.
A single mediation session typically lasts half a day to a full day. Complex cases may take multiple sessions. Most cases that resolve through mediation do so in one to three sessions.
Sometimes. Some high-conflict cases mediate successfully with the right mediator and structured process. Others are genuinely not suited to mediation — particularly cases involving domestic violence, extreme power imbalance, or safety concerns.
What Clients Say
Strata Family Law represents mediation clients across Thurston County (Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, Tenino), Pierce County (Tacoma, Puyallup, University Place, Lakewood, Gig Harbor, DuPont, Bonney Lake), and Lewis County (Chehalis, Centralia, Napavine, Morton). Whether your case is in Olympia, Tacoma, or anywhere across the greater South Sound, you get the same team, the same standard, and the same commitment.
Take the first step
One conversation can change everything.
A consultation isn't a commitment. It's a chance to understand your situation, ask the questions that keep you up at night, and find out what your options are.
Call (360) 295-9577We'll get back to you within one business day.
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