Resolve your divorce or custody dispute without leaving every decision to a judge.
Your Las Vegas divorce mediator is Gayle Nathan, a former Nevada Family Court judge, who guides private mediation for couples and parents.
$3,000 half-day package Typically split, $1,500 per person. Preparation and a written settlement agreement included.
Former Family Court judgeEighth Judicial District Court, Family Division
Certified mediatorDivorce and custody disputes
Former ADR Section presidentState Bar of Nevada
Reviewed by Gayle Nathan, Esq. Last reviewed October 2026.
What your mediator does
Mediation lets spouses or parents settle their own divorce, custody, support, or property issues with the help of a neutral, instead of having a judge decide. The mediator does not take sides and does not represent either of you. Her role is to keep the conversation productive, test each proposal against what a Nevada court would realistically do, and help you reach terms both of you can sign.
Gayle mediates for couples who each have their own attorney, for couples where only one has an attorney, and for couples who have no attorneys at all.
Half-Day Private Mediation Package
$3,000
Flat fee — preparation, mediation, and agreement drafting included.
Your mediation package includes
- Advance review of relevant documents and each party’s position
- A dedicated half-day (four-hour) mediation session with Gayle Nathan
- Preparation of a written settlement agreement reflecting the terms reached during mediation
- Additional mediation time, if needed, at $350 per hour
How the cost is split
In most mediations, each side pays half: $1,500 per person for the half-day package. The parties can agree to divide it differently, and we put the split in writing before the session.
Private mediation with Gayle
$1,500
per person when split equally, including preparation, the four-hour session, and a written settlement agreement
A contested divorce with a lawyer for each side
$9,000–$40,000+
per person in many Clark County cases, depending on how much is disputed, according to our Nevada divorce cost guide
- You don’t need lawyers to participate. Many couples mediate without attorneys. Either of you can still choose to have a lawyer review the agreement before signing.
- Your mediator spent years on the Family Court bench. Gayle is a former Nevada Family Court judge, so the conversation is grounded in how these disputes are actually decided. She serves as a neutral mediator, not a judge, and does not decide your case.
- One agreement, one fee. The package includes the written settlement agreement, so you are not paying separately for drafting.
About Gayle Nathan
Gayle brings a perspective few family law mediators can offer. A former Nevada Family Court judge, certified mediator, and former president of the State Bar of Nevada’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, she understands how family law disputes unfold both in settlement negotiations and in court.
Her experience helps parties identify the strengths and weaknesses of their positions and explore realistic paths toward resolution. Read Gayle’s full biography.
How a mediation works
- Conflict checkBefore we book, we confirm that neither party is or has been our client in a related matter.
- PreparationEach side sends a short summary of the open issues and key documents, such as financial disclosures or a proposed parenting schedule.
- The sessionGayle meets with you together, separately, or both, depending on what keeps the discussion productive.
- Your agreementWhen you reach agreement, Gayle prepares a written settlement agreement reflecting the terms you resolved.
Your agreement, put in writing
Reaching a settlement is only part of the process. Once the parties have reached an agreement, your mediator will prepare a written settlement agreement reflecting the terms resolved during mediation. This drafting service is included in the $3,000 flat fee.
The agreement records the decisions the two of you made. It is not legal advice to either party. Both parties are encouraged to have independent legal counsel review the agreement before signing.
The flat fee covers one initial settlement agreement drafted from the terms reached. Further revisions and the court filings needed to finalize your case are addressed in your written mediation agreement.
Your mediator is neutral. When Gayle mediates your case, neither she nor the firm represents either party, and the firm will not later represent either of you in the same matter. A mediator cannot guarantee a settlement or predict how a court would rule.
Is mediation right for you?
Mediation works well when
Both of you are willing to take part, share the financial information the other needs, and negotiate in good faith. You do not need to agree on everything before you start; most couples arrive with real disagreements.
It may not be the right tool when
There are safety concerns, coercion, or a serious imbalance of power that keeps one person from negotiating freely, such as a history of domestic violence. We ask about these issues before scheduling, and if mediation isn’t the right fit, we will say so.
Private mediation vs. the court’s mediation center
| Court’s Family Mediation Center | Private mediation with Gayle | |
|---|---|---|
| Issues covered | Custody and parenting time | Every issue: property, debts, alimony, child support, custody, and parenting time |
| How it starts | Referred by the court in contested custody cases | Both parties choose to schedule it |
| Mediator | Assigned through the court’s program | Gayle Nathan, former Nevada Family Court judge |
| Cost | Set by the court’s program | $3,000 half-day package, written agreement included |
Many couples use private mediation to resolve everything before or alongside the court process. For how mediation fits into a Nevada divorce, see our Nevada divorce mediation overview. If disagreements about the children continue after a custody order or divorce decree, parenting coordination may help parents resolve recurring disputes without repeated court involvement.
Schedule a mediation with Gayle
Tell us what needs to be resolved and who is involved. We will run a conflict check and offer available dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does divorce mediation cost in Las Vegas?
With our firm, a half-day mediation package is a flat $3,000, including advance preparation, a four-hour session, and a written settlement agreement. Most parties split it equally, $1,500 each. Additional time is $350 an hour. If each side brings an attorney, those attorneys bill separately for their time.
Can the mediator also be my lawyer?
No. A mediator is neutral and cannot represent either party in the same matter. If you want your own lawyer, choose someone outside our firm for that case.
What issues can be mediated?
Property and debt division, family businesses and significant assets, alimony, child support, custody, parenting and holiday schedules, relocation, modifications of existing arrangements, and post-divorce disputes. Anything the two of you could agree to in a settlement can be worked out in mediation.
Is mediation confidential?
Nevada law (NRS 48.109) generally protects communications made during mediation as part of settlement negotiations. Statements made during mediation that are not otherwise discoverable are generally inadmissible in later proceedings. However, mediation does not make otherwise discoverable information confidential, and legal exceptions may apply. Our written mediation agreement explains the confidentiality provisions governing the process.
What happens if we cannot settle everything?
You do not have to resolve every issue for mediation to be productive. Some parties reach a complete settlement, while others resolve only certain issues. Any remaining disputes can be addressed through further negotiations, additional mediation, or court proceedings. The mediator will not impose a settlement.
Do we need attorneys to mediate?
No, but we recommend it. Each of you having an attorney review the final terms protects you and makes the agreement more likely to hold up.
About this page. Written and reviewed by Gayle Nathan, Esq., a former judge of the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, a certified mediator, and a former president of the State Bar of Nevada’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section. Last reviewed October 2026.
Nevada source: NRS 48.109, admissibility of settlement negotiations and mediation communications.
Mediation services are provided by an attorney acting as a neutral mediator, not as legal counsel for either party. This page is general information, not legal advice.