★★★★★
“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
Hennepin 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 Hennepin County costs $402, and in-person family court is now at the Government Center in Minneapolis. Mediation is how you two settle the terms before that. 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 recently participated in a virtual mediation with Ryan. Although we did not reach a final agreement, I appreciated his professionalism, neutrality, and calm approach throughout the process.”
Virtual by default
Sessions run on secure Zoom, so you can each join from anywhere in Hennepin 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 brought patience, clarity, and professionalism to every part of the mediation process. His thorough approach and calm presence made the daunting task of mediation feel much more manageable.”
★★★★★
“Professional, calm, steady hand throughout mediation. Kept things moving while being sensitive and responsive to seriousness of moment. Would use again (but hopeful I don’t have 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 →
Fourth Judicial District
What's different about Hennepin County
Hennepin County is served by the Fourth Judicial District, the largest trial court in Minnesota. In 2026 the Family Justice Center closed, and since March 30 all in-person Family Court hearings take place at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., with one combined Self-Help Center on level A-20.
The filing fee is $402, a few dollars under most of the metro, because Hennepin's law library fee is $12 instead of $15.
The county also runs its own Family Mediation and Evaluation office, which offers custody and parenting-time mediation and Social Early Neutral Evaluation (one three-hour session, with follow-up as needed). Private mediation like ours covers the whole divorce: parenting, money, the house, all of it, on your schedule.
What a divorce looks like in Hennepin 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 Fourth Judicial District
Filing a divorce in Hennepin County costs $402, and fee waivers exist if money is tight. You can e-file through the Minnesota courts’ eFile and eServe system or file at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 South Sixth Street (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
Hennepin is where Social Early Neutral Evaluation started. The Fourth District works with Hennepin County Family Mediation and Evaluation to provide SENE for parenting-time disputes, and Financial ENE providers come from the state Rule 114 roster. Both are voluntary and usually follow the Initial Case Management 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: Hennepin County District Court (mncourts.gov), Hennepin Family Mediation & Evaluation, Hennepin ENE information, MN Judicial Branch, ECM/ENE, Hennepin ENE/ECM (mncourts.gov), Minn. Stat. § 518.157. Checked October 2026. Court details change; confirm with the court. General information, not legal advice.
Mediation or two lawyers?
The $402 Hennepin 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 Hennepin County Government 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 $402 Hennepin 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
$402 to file in Hennepin County
- Statewide base fee$340
- Surcharge$50
- Hennepin law library fee$12
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 Hennepin 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 Hennepin County filing fee is $402 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.
$402 as of September 2026: the $340 statewide base fee, the $50 surcharge, and Hennepin County's $12 law library fee, for one filing on a joint petition. Fees change, so confirm with the court.
The Family Justice Center closed in 2026. Since March 30, in-person Family Court hearings are at the Hennepin County Government Center, 300 S. 6th St., Minneapolis. The court's help line is (612) 348-6000. Remote hearings continue as scheduled.
Yes. Hennepin County Family Mediation and Evaluation offers custody and parenting-time mediation and Social Early Neutral Evaluation. Private mediation is a separate option that can cover the whole divorce, including property and support.
Yes. 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 Hennepin County couples in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Plymouth 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.