★★★★★
“We were looking for a professional service to help us get our divorce details figured out. Our situation wasn't contentious so mediation seemed to be the way to go.”
4.9285+ Google reviews
Dakota 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 Dakota County costs $405, and the court has three locations: Hastings, Apple Valley and West St. Paul. Mediation is how you two settle the terms first. Ours is $1,695 per person for the full Three-Part Process, virtual by default.
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.
★★★★★
“I’m grateful for the mediation support Ryan provided. The process was quick and straightforward, and his calm, approachable presence made a stressful situation feel less overwhelming.”
Virtual by default
Sessions run on secure Zoom, so you can each join from anywhere in Dakota 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.
★★★★★
“Ryan was an excellent and support facilitator and listener, professional and compassionate throughout the process of working with him. I'd highly recommend working with him, he's very effective.”
★★★★★
“Our experience with Ryan exceeded all expectations. He was kind, calm, knowledgeable and supportive during what could have been a much more challenging process without his guidance. I’d recommend Flannel People to…”
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 →
First Judicial District
Three court locations, one county
Dakota County is part of the First Judicial District, and unlike most counties it has three court locations: the Judicial Center in Hastings, the Western Service Center in Apple Valley, and the Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. All three keep the same hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The Northern Service Center shares our 55118 ZIP code. Our St. Paul office on Sibley Memorial Hwy is a short drive from Eagan, Mendota Heights and West St. Paul, if you ever want to meet in person.
The filing fee is $405: the $340 base, the $50 surcharge, and Dakota's $15 law library fee.
What a divorce looks like in Dakota 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 First Judicial District
Filing a divorce in Dakota 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 Dakota County Judicial Center, 1560 W. Highway 55 (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
Dakota County doesn't assign an evaluator for you. To use Early Neutral Evaluation, you pick a Financial (FENE) or Social (SENE) provider from the state Rule 114 roster and contact them directly; the First District publishes its own ENE fee schedules and a stipulation form for couples who want to skip the Initial Case Management Conference and go straight to ENE. Cases that haven't settled closer to trial can use the district's Moderated Settlement Conference program.
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: Dakota County District Court (mncourts.gov), Dakota ENE information, MN district court fees, MN Judicial Branch, ECM/ENE, Dakota ENE/ECM (mncourts.gov), Minn. Stat. § 518.157. Checked October 2026. Court details change; confirm with the court. General information, not legal advice.
Dakota County cities with their own page
Mediation or two lawyers?
The $405 Dakota 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 Dakota County Judicial Center |
| 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 Dakota 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 Dakota County
- Statewide base fee$340
- Surcharge$50
- Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota 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.
Dakota County District Court has original jurisdiction over family cases and lists three locations: the Judicial Center (1560 W. Highway 55, Hastings), the Western Service Center (Apple Valley) and the Northern Service Center (West St. Paul). Your court notices say where to go.
Yes. Sessions are virtual (Zoom) by default. In-person meetings at our St. Paul office, 971 Sibley Memorial Hwy, St Paul, MN 55118, 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 Dakota County couples in Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville 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
Loading scheduler...
Mediation, not legal advice. A mediator is neutral and represents neither spouse.