★★★★★
“I absolutely recommend Ryan and Flannel People Mediation. He was excellent all the way through. The communication from the first call was prompt and easy going.”
4.9285+ Google reviews
Anoka County divorce mediation,without the war.
You’re worn out, and neither of you wants a courtroom fight. I help you two work out the terms together, with one neutral mediator for both of you, on Zoom by default. $1,695 per person, flat, for the whole Three-Part Process.
Talk with Ryan or Kate · free · 15 min · nothing to sign
Or text me: (763) 316-8323
Quick answer: Filing a divorce in Anoka County costs $405 at the Anoka County Courthouse on 3rd Avenue in Anoka. Mediation is how you two work out the terms first. Ours is $1,695 per person for the full Three-Part Process, virtual by default, so nobody drives across the metro.
The Flannel Three-Part Process
Not an hour of mediation. A whole process.
What we charge
$1,695 per person
Flat, for the whole Three-Part Process
It’s a process I’ve reverse-engineered from the psychology of what actually helps two people reach agreement: each of you is heard privately first, the written prep clears the ground, and by the time you’re together you can really see and hear each other without falling into the usual traps.
Step through it
Free 15-minute call
We talk through where you are and whether mediation fits. No pressure, nothing to sign.
★★★★★
“Ryan is calming and clearly has an intelligent heart and mind. He provided clear structure and instruction for a very challenging and emotional process.”
Virtual by default
Sessions run on secure Zoom, so you can each join from anywhere in Anoka County. No hourly billing, no retainer.
In person, by appointment
In-person meetings at our St. Paul office, 971 Sibley Memorial Hwy, are available by appointment and may carry a facility fee.
4.9 stars from 285+ Google reviews
A few, unedited.
★★★★★
“I felt heard and seen in this process, and appreciated an alternative option to a lawyer. It really helped to have a calm space to talk through everything, and I appreciated the guidance on the process.”
★★★★★
“Ryan was absolutely amazing. He was kind, patient, and extremely efficient. It was a difficult process but he made it feel safe and smooth..”
Need a court-roster mediator? Kate McLaughlin is a Qualified Neutral under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. What Rule 114 means →
Tenth Judicial District
Anoka County, without the drive
Anoka County is in the Tenth Judicial District. Family, civil and probate filings go through the Anoka County Courthouse, 2100 3rd Ave. in Anoka, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and the Tenth District runs a Self-Help Center for people filing on their own.
From Blaine or Coon Rapids, St. Paul is a real drive at rush hour. That's one reason our sessions are on Zoom by default: you can each join from wherever you're comfortable.
The filing fee is $405: the $340 base, the $50 surcharge, and Anoka's $15 law library fee.
What a divorce looks like in Anoka County, step by step
Work out the terms together, first
That’s my part. $1,695 per person covers the full Three-Part Process: a private one-on-one with each of you, written prep, then the session. Book the free 15-minute call →
File with the Tenth Judicial District
Filing a divorce in Anoka County costs $405, and fee waivers exist if money is tight. You can e-file through the Minnesota courts’ eFile and eServe system or file at the Anoka County Courthouse, 2100 3rd Ave. (map).
Kids? Plan for parent education
When custody or parenting time is contested, Minnesota courts require a parent education program, and it generally has to start before the first case conference. See our Minnesota parenting plan guide.
If something is still contested
In Anoka County, every new family case of this kind is scheduled for an Initial Case Management Conference (ICMC), and ENE sessions are often booked right at that conference through the court's Provider Availability and Scheduling System (PASS), using neutrals from the Rule 114 roster. Cases that are still unsettled close to trial can use a Moderated Settlement Conference.
Your agreement goes to the judge
Whatever you agreed on is written up and submitted for the court’s review. I’m a mediator, not a lawyer, so I’ll always tell you it’s smart to have your own attorney look it over before you sign.
Sources: Anoka County District Court (mncourts.gov), Anoka ENE information, MN district court fees, MN Judicial Branch, ECM/ENE, Anoka ENE/ECM (mncourts.gov), Minn. Stat. § 518.157. Checked October 2026. Court details change; confirm with the court. General information, not legal advice.
Anoka County cities with their own page
Mediation or two lawyers?
The $405 Anoka County filing fee is the same either way. What moves the bill is how you get to the agreement.
| Compare | Flannel mediation | Two lawyers negotiating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,695 per person, flat, for the whole Three-Part Process | Each side usually pays its own retainer and hourly bills |
| Who decides | You two, together | Lawyers negotiate; a judge decides what’s left |
| Where | Zoom by default; St. Paul office by appointment (may carry a facility fee) | Offices and the Anoka County Courthouse |
| Legal advice | No. I’m neutral, and you can each have a lawyer review | Yes, each lawyer advises their own client |
★★★★★
“Ryan was extremely helpful and professional. He saved us from having a more expensive and drawn out divorce process.”
Run the numbers: calculator, county fees and cost chart
Calculator · mediation vs. two lawyers, for both of you
Two lawyers: $10,600 each, the reported average for lawyers, disputes settled without trial. Flannel: $1,695 per person for the full Three-Part Process (one-on-ones, written prep, the session), plus the $405 Anoka County filing fee.
Lawyer figures: national per-person averages from Martindale-Nolo Research’s 2019 divorce survey, published by Nolo; they include filing fees and other costs. Averages, not a quote or a prediction for your case. General information, not legal advice.
Interactive · filing fee lookup
$405 to file in Anoka County
- Statewide base fee$340
- Surcharge$50
- Anoka law library fee$15
One filing on a joint petition, MN Judicial Branch fee schedule, Sept. 2026. A fee waiver (IFP) may be available. General information, not legal advice.
Chart · what people report spending, per person
Flannel Three-Part Process: $1,695 (per person, flat · plus filing fee).
Survey figures: Nolo/DivorceNet reader survey of recently divorced readers (2019 fieldwork), national. Flannel figure is our published flat fee. Not a prediction for any one case.
Fee data: MN Judicial Branch district court fees. See all 87 counties.
Questions Anoka County couples ask
With Flannel People Mediation it's $1,695 per person ($3,390 for both of you), flat, for the full Three-Part Process: a private one-on-one with each spouse, written prep, then the mediation session. The Anoka County filing fee is $405 and goes to the court, not to us; fee waivers exist if money is tight. If you're comparing hourly mediators, ask each one for the total, not the hourly rate.
Three things worth asking any mediator: is the price flat and published, what happens before you two sit down together, and, if your case needs a court-roster neutral, are they a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral. Ours: $1,695 per person for the Three-Part Process, private one-on-ones and written prep before the session, and Kate McLaughlin is a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral. We're rated 4.9 on Google across 285+ reviews.
Yes. The free 15-minute call is just you, and your spouse doesn't have to be on it. If you both go ahead, each of you gets a private one-on-one with me first, so neither of you walks into the joint session feeling ambushed.
No. Most couples start out stuck on something. The Three-Part Process is built for that: each of you is heard privately first, the written prep narrows what's actually in dispute, and the session focuses there.
$405 as of September 2026 ($340 base + $50 surcharge + $15 law library fee) for one filing on a joint petition. Fees change, so confirm with the court.
Anoka County Courthouse, Court Administration, 2100 3rd Ave., Anoka, MN 55303. Main line (763) 760-6700. Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
No. Sessions are virtual (Zoom) by default. In-person meetings at our St. Paul office are available by appointment and may carry a facility fee.
No. A mediator is neutral and doesn't give legal advice. We'll work toward a written agreement on the issues you both agree on; for questions about your legal rights, talk to a licensed attorney.
Flannel People Mediation, at a glance
Flannel People Mediation is a divorce mediation practice at 971 Sibley Memorial Hwy, St Paul, MN 55118, serving Anoka County couples in Coon Rapids, Blaine, Fridley and beyond. Divorce mediation is $1,695 per person, flat, for the full Flannel Three-Part Process. Virtual (Zoom) by default; in-person meetings at our St. Paul office are available by appointment and may carry a facility fee. Mediators: Ryan McLaughlin (founder) and Kate McLaughlin, a Rule 114 Qualified Neutral. Mediators, not attorneys; no legal advice. 4.9 on Google (285+ reviews). Phone/text (763) 316-8323.
Let's talk for 15 minutes.
Pick a time on the right. If mediation fits, $1,695 per person covers the whole Three-Part Process. If it doesn’t, I’ll tell you, and point you somewhere better.
What happens on the call
- 15 minutes, free. Just you and Ryan or Kate, by phone or Zoom.
- You tell us where things stand. No forms first, no judgment.
- We explain the Three-Part Process and the $1,695-per-person flat fee, and whether mediation looks like a fit.
- You decide later. Nothing to sign, nothing to pay. Your spouse doesn’t have to be on this call.
Rather text? (763) 316-8323 · Open the calendar in a new tab
Not ready to talk yet?
Free guide
The 4 Questions I ask each person, alone, before a session
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Mediation, not legal advice. A mediator is neutral and represents neither spouse.