Emilee helped us with a small family matter. She was kind, responsive and confident. I would highly recommend Emilee and this firm for your family matters.
You want a divorce, not a war.
You and your spouse might not agree on everything, but you both know you’d rather make decisions together than hand them off to a judge.
You’re looking for a process that keeps things focused, private, and productive—something built to reach resolution, not escalate the conflict. That’s why many of our clients turn to divorce mediation.
At Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C., we guide clients through the mediation process with respect, structure, and a focus on resolution. Mediation offers the opportunity to work through important decisions with more control and less collateral damage.
It’s not about pretending everything’s fine.
It’s about making sure the process doesn’t do more harm than it has to.
Mediation is a voluntary, non-adversarial process where both spouses and their attorneys work with a neutral third party (the mediator) to resolve divorce-related issues outside of court.
You can mediate:
Mediation gives you the opportunity to craft a custom divorce agreement that works for your life, not just what the judge decides in a limited hearing.
Clients turn to mediation for many reasons:
Even in high-conflict situations, mediation can help lower the temperature, shift the focus, and move both parties toward closure with less emotional and financial cost.
Mediation can be court-ordered or voluntary. In Durham County, custody and equitable distribution (property division) mediation are frequently required, but you don’t have to wait for the court to mandate it.
You can begin private mediation at any time—before, during, or even after the divorce process.
Mediation can be conducted:
Once you reach agreements, they can be formalized into a legal separation agreement or incorporated into your divorce judgment.
At Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C. in North Carolina, we offer two distinct roles in the mediation process:
As Durham divorce mediation attorneys, we help clients prepare for mediation by:
We make sure you’re not walking into mediation blind—or leaving with terms that won’t hold up.
We also provide neutral mediation services for couples who want to work with an experienced family law attorney but prefer not to hire separate counsel. As mediators, we:
Whether you’re working with us as a party or as a mediator, our goal is the same: resolution that protects everyone involved.
There are situations where mediation isn’t appropriate. For example:
But in most cases, even those with high tension, mediation is a valuable tool. And unlike litigation, you can always choose to walk away and pursue other legal options.
Mediation gives you space to try. Without giving up your rights.
We’ve seen how powerful mediation can be.
We’re not here to push mediation when it doesn’t make sense. We’re here to offer it as a path forward—when it does.
We work with individuals and families throughout Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, and the broader Triangle region. Whether you need a lawyer to represent you during mediation or a mediator to guide the process, we’re ready to help.
We offer both phone and virtual mediation sessions to accommodate your schedule, your privacy needs, and your comfort level.
Our board-certified specialists lead every case with strategy, care, and a commitment to your best outcome.
Emilee helped us with a small family matter. She was kind, responsive and confident. I would highly recommend Emilee and this firm for your family matters.
...Emilee helped us with a small family matter. She was kind, responsive and confident. I would highly recommend Emilee and this firm for your family matters.
Fantastic team to work with! Professionals from start to finish. Thank you!
...Fantastic team to work with! Professionals from start to finish. Thank you!
Ellis Law Firm did a great job with our custody case. Amanda Knight was professional and caring. She listened to our case, full of drama and concerns. She handled our...
Ellis Law Firm did a great job with our custody case. Amanda Knight was professional and caring. She listened to our case, full of drama and concerns. She handled our case with dignity and class. Amanda was very organized and methodical in her approach to our case. She made sure our voice and our little one’s voice was heard. She responded to every email and phone call almost instantaneously, relieving our hearts and minds. We are so thankful for the work Ellis Law Firm did in our case. We highly recommend them!
Shannon Tucker is one of those rare attorneys who’s warm and friendly as a best friend but whip smart and fierce when it comes to protecting and fighting for you....
Shannon Tucker is one of those rare attorneys who’s warm and friendly as a best friend but whip smart and fierce when it comes to protecting and fighting for you. You’ll feel better every time you talk with her, and when your case is over you’ll actually miss having her. A+
Sarah Mercer was incredibly helpful and easy to work with. It seems like she genuinely cares when she’s talking to you.
...Sarah Mercer was incredibly helpful and easy to work with. It seems like she genuinely cares when she’s talking to you.
Sarah M. has been amazing! Very trustworthy and extremely helpful.
...Sarah M. has been amazing! Very trustworthy and extremely helpful.
You don’t have to go to war to get divorced.
You don’t have to give up everything to avoid court.
And you don’t have to keep wondering if there’s a better way.
Because clarity doesn’t come from conflict. It comes from sitting down and starting the right conversation.
Durham Office
Ellis Family Law, P.L.L.C.
3511 Shannon Road Suite 150 Durham, NC, 27707
Fax: 877-678-1584
Mon – Thur: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Free Download Resource
