Matthew House's Commitment: Excellence with Ethics
Matthew returned to Portland in 2005 to find a practice partner or mentor. Instead, he found a void to fill. The number of mediators was relatively small, and Matthew discovered that every mediator in the tri-county area was either under-qualified or overpriced. Regrettably, 20 years later, not much has changed.
There are about three Portland mediators who have law degrees and charge reasonable fees. Of those, Matthew is the only one who provides all the services that he offers.
Most importantly, a mediator must have a law degree. It isn't required by the state, but it should be. Divorce is a legal matter. The person helping you through it must have legal skills and knowledge that only law school can teach and no amount of self-study or in-office exposure can replace. As you search for a family law mediator, the lack of a law degree should be disqualifying.
Second, your mediator must have broad and deep knowledge of divorce finance. Every divorce worth mediating has financial components. Matthew spent two years taking a reduced caseload so that he could expand his knowledge of divorce finance and develop a comprehensive and innovative protocol. It's not enough to tell divorcing clients what people "usually do." There is no "usual" divorce. If your mediator can't offer you at least three ways to approach every decision so that you can choose the best one for you in light of the pros and cons that your mediator should be able to explain, she or he doesn't know enough to assist you.
Third, if you have children, having substantial knowledge of child development and dozens of options for parenting plans to allow you to choose the components that will best meet your family's needs. Matthew has 40 well-researched and thoughtfully designed categories that you can address in your parenting plan. Not every parenting plan includes all of those elements, but your mediator should offer a full complement of options to consider.
Fourth, if you have preteens or teenagers, their feedback matters, and you should not have to pay extra to have a supportive setting in which they can feel comfortable to voice it. No other Portland mediator -- not one -- offers free sessions to every tween, teen, and young adult during a mediation process.
Fifth, Matthew's fees are lower than any other law-degreed mediator with anywhere near his years of experience. Getting a comprehensive divorce product should not take a long time or cost more than absolutely necessary.
Sixth, speaking of timing, Matthew offers morning, afternoon, and evening sessions Monday through Friday. He is also available on Saturdays and Sundays by request. What is more, Matthew will always be able to start your mediation within one week – often sooner. He leaves room in his schedule to keep that promise. Few other mediators -- if any -- offer such extensive scheduling.
Schedule a consultation with Matthew today to have your divorce-related needs met competently and thoughtfully.
There are about three Portland mediators who have law degrees and charge reasonable fees. Of those, Matthew is the only one who provides all the services that he offers.
Most importantly, a mediator must have a law degree. It isn't required by the state, but it should be. Divorce is a legal matter. The person helping you through it must have legal skills and knowledge that only law school can teach and no amount of self-study or in-office exposure can replace. As you search for a family law mediator, the lack of a law degree should be disqualifying.
Second, your mediator must have broad and deep knowledge of divorce finance. Every divorce worth mediating has financial components. Matthew spent two years taking a reduced caseload so that he could expand his knowledge of divorce finance and develop a comprehensive and innovative protocol. It's not enough to tell divorcing clients what people "usually do." There is no "usual" divorce. If your mediator can't offer you at least three ways to approach every decision so that you can choose the best one for you in light of the pros and cons that your mediator should be able to explain, she or he doesn't know enough to assist you.
Third, if you have children, having substantial knowledge of child development and dozens of options for parenting plans to allow you to choose the components that will best meet your family's needs. Matthew has 40 well-researched and thoughtfully designed categories that you can address in your parenting plan. Not every parenting plan includes all of those elements, but your mediator should offer a full complement of options to consider.
Fourth, if you have preteens or teenagers, their feedback matters, and you should not have to pay extra to have a supportive setting in which they can feel comfortable to voice it. No other Portland mediator -- not one -- offers free sessions to every tween, teen, and young adult during a mediation process.
Fifth, Matthew's fees are lower than any other law-degreed mediator with anywhere near his years of experience. Getting a comprehensive divorce product should not take a long time or cost more than absolutely necessary.
Sixth, speaking of timing, Matthew offers morning, afternoon, and evening sessions Monday through Friday. He is also available on Saturdays and Sundays by request. What is more, Matthew will always be able to start your mediation within one week – often sooner. He leaves room in his schedule to keep that promise. Few other mediators -- if any -- offer such extensive scheduling.
Schedule a consultation with Matthew today to have your divorce-related needs met competently and thoughtfully.