★★★★★
“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.”
4.9285+ Google reviews
Washington 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 Washington County costs $405 at the Washington County Courthouse in Stillwater. 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, from a St. Paul practice next door.
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.
★★★★★
“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!)”
Virtual by default
Sessions run on secure Zoom, so you can each join from anywhere in Washington 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 helped my wife and me navigate a difficult divorce with empathy and professionalism. He created a calm environment for open communication and helped us reach a fair settlement agreement.”
★★★★★
“Ryan is helpful and gave good direction. Definitely kept things neutral and positive during this not so fun time.”
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
East metro, next door to St. Paul
Washington County is in the Tenth Judicial District. Divorces are filed with the Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd St. N. in Stillwater, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Like Anoka, it's served by the Tenth District Self-Help Center for people filing on their own.
We're a St. Paul practice, just west of Woodbury and Oakdale. Most couples mediate with us on Zoom from home; in-person meetings at our office are by appointment.
The filing fee is $405: the $340 base, the $50 surcharge, and Washington County's $15 law library fee.
What a divorce looks like in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North (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 Washington County, all new family cases of this kind are scheduled for an Initial Case Management Conference (ICMC) and enter Early Case Management. ENEs are scheduled during the ICMC through PASS, using neutrals from the Rule 114 roster, and the Tenth District publishes guides on how to prepare for an ENE and what happens after. The county also keeps its own Moderated Settlement Conference moderator list.
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: Washington County District Court (mncourts.gov), Washington ENE information, MN district court fees, MN Judicial Branch, ECM/ENE, Washington ENE/ECM (mncourts.gov), Minn. Stat. § 518.157. Checked October 2026. Court details change; confirm with the court. General information, not legal advice.
Nearby city pages (Ramsey County, next door)
Mediation or two lawyers?
The $405 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County
- Statewide base fee$340
- Surcharge$50
- Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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.
Washington County Courthouse, 14949 62nd Street North, P.O. Box 3802, Stillwater, MN 55082. Phone (651) 413-8030. 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 Washington County couples in Saint Paul, Maplewood 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.