Mediation Fees & Attendance

Your rate covers the whole process, not just the time in the room:

• Scheduling and coordinating between all parties

• Any pre-mediation attorney conferences

• Preparing for and conducting your session

• Post-session follow-up calls and correspondence as needed

• Finalizing all draft documents and closing out your case

• Refreshments and snacks for everyone present (for in person sessions)

• Lunch for everyone present (6 and 8 hour in-person sessions only)

Typical start times:

• 2-hour sessions: 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., or 4:30 p.m.

• 4-hour sessions: 9:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.

• 6- and 8-hour sessions: 9:00 a.m., with a one-hour lunch provided

• Weekend and after-hours: Varies by availability. Please contact us if you have questions

Please arrive 15 minutes early so we can handle introductions and expectations — that way the paid time is spent on the actual work. If your situation changes significantly after booking, we may need to adjust your service type, session length, or pricing.

Your session isn't booked until your deposit is paid. Until then, that time stays open to someone else. You're welcome to pay in full, but a deposit is the minimum to hold your spot.

• 50% deposit due at booking to reserve your time

• Remaining 50% due no later than 7 business days before your session

If the balance isn't paid by that deadline, your session is cancelled, your deposit is forfeited, and a $250 fee is added to your bill. Each party (or their attorney) is responsible for paying their own fees on time.

We reserve the right not to begin a session until all fees are paid.

If one party doesn't pay by the deadline, the session is cancelled and released to other clients, and the non-paying party forfeits their deposit and is charged the $250 fee. Parties who paid in full are not penalized for another party's non-payment: they may apply their portion of payment toward a rescheduled date (subject to all parties agreeing and availability) or request a full refund of their portion only.

Refunds are initiated as soon as we send email notice of the refund; the time for funds to appear depends on your bank, typically 3–7 business days, though some banks are faster than others.

Payment Authorization. By accepting this policy and providing a payment method, you authorize The Truce Room to charge that payment method for all fees owed under this policy — including your deposit, remaining balance, and any $250 late-cancellation, no-show, or non-payment fee — without further notice. Fees are charged as compensation for reserved time that cannot always be re-booked on short notice, not as a penalty.

We hold a limited number of free and reduced-fee spots each month for community members in need, offered as a one-time grant in the order requests are received. Availability is limited and not guaranteed.

To be considered, you'll share:

• A brief description of your need and the service you're requesting

• Household size and monthly income range

• Current benefits status (SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, SSI/SSDI, WIC, etc.)

• Proof of the above, so support reaches the people who actually need it, without delay

How it works:

• We review requests within 3 business days and reply by email.

• If approved, eligibility may cover one session, a set number of sessions, or a defined time period — it varies by case.

• If approved, you may be asked to keep a card on file or pay a small commitment deposit (applied if you attend).

• Submitting an application does not reserve time. Appointments are booked only after approval.

• We do NOT keep your proof documents. Originals are returned and all copies are securely shredded or permanently deleted.

Repeated late cancels, reschedules, or no-shows may end your access to discounted or free services.

Deposits hold time that can't always be re-booked on short notice, so these apply to ALL clients regardless of financial status.

• You get ONE reschedule of your deposit, only if you request it 7+ business days before your session. The new date must be within 30 days, subject to availability.

• Reschedule or cancel within 7 business days of your session, then your deposit is forfeited plus a $250 fee is added to your bill.

• Late arrival: 15-minute grace period. Arriving late may shorten your session — sessions still end at the scheduled time.

• No-show: not attending and not contacting us within 15 minutes of the start triggers a $250 fee, and all paid fees stay non-refundable.

• Emergencies: true, unavoidable emergencies are considered at the mediator's discretion and must be rescheduled.

From time to time, we can travel to you:

• Within Tarrant County: additional $175 per party

• Elsewhere in Texas: additional $375 per party

If travel expenses beyond mileage are required, those costs are split equally among the parties. If travel requires an extra day, that day is billed as an additional session.

Please don't attend in person if you (or anyone coming with you) has:

• A fever, or a fever within the last 24 hours

• Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours

• A persistent cough, shortness of breath, or significant sore throat

• New or worsening cold, flu, or COVID symptoms

• Known exposure to a contagious illness with symptoms, or advice to isolate

Coming back in person: fever-free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medicine, no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours, and improving symptoms.

Switching to virtual: request it at least 48 hours ahead and we'll move your session virtually. Without notice, the $250 late cancellation/no-show policy applies.