Reviews for Michael's Divorce Mediation in Lake Forest

"Opening up to a stranger about all the details your life and broken marriage is not an easy thing to do.  But working with Michael is like sitting down and talking with a wise friend.  His empathetic and collaborative style is invaluable for anyone needing guidance through a divorce."

"Michael is an extraordinarily thoughtful and professional mediator with a true knack for helping couples figure out and communicate about what will work best for their families during a vulnerable transitional phase of life.  He works to hear both sides and find the best solutions to the many different concerns a family may have.  He is very knowledgeable and has many resources and referrals in his network.  He is willing to talk, support, and guide - no matter where you are in the divorce process.  It is very apparent when speaking to him that he is just a good human being who is very passionate about his work.  I would highly recommend Michael!"

"I wholeheartedly recommend Michael as a mediator.  His exceptional communication skills, keen understanding of diverse perspectives, and unwavering commitment to finding amicable solutions make him an ideal choice.  Michael's calm demeanor and ability to foster open dialogue create an environment where conflicts can be resolved effectively and efficiently.  With his professionalism and empathetic approach, he consistently guides parties toward mutually beneficial agreements.  I have full confidence in Michael's mediation expertise and believe he would be an invaluable asset in any mediation process."

"Throughout the mediation process, Michael's professionalism and impartiality shine brightly.  He fosters an environment of open communication and active listening, ensuring that each party feels heard and respected.  Michael's empathetic approach enables him to connect with the participants on a personal level, making them feel comfortable and at ease during the often emotionally charged mediation sessions.  In addition, Michael's financial background brings a unique and invaluable dimension to the mediation process."

"Michael is a wonderful professional to work with. His real life experience and professionalism shines through in every meeting we had together. He takes the time to go through every detail to make sure you understand every step and all it involves. I couldn't recommend enough!"

"We chose Michael to mediate our divorce because of his co-parenting-centered approach, and we are incredibly grateful for the support he provided throughout the process. Michael was unwavering in his child-focused guidance, consistently helping us navigate difficult decisions through the lens of what was truly in the best interest of our child. His ability to foster a respectful, collaborative environment was invaluable, and he continually reassured us that, while divorce is undeniably challenging, our commitment to successful, healthy co-parenting would be something we could be proud of in the long run.

Thanks to Michael's professional expertise and empathetic approach, we were able to reach an agreement that feels fair, balanced, and sustainable for both of us, while always prioritizing our child's well-being. We truly believe the outcome reflects both our individual needs and, most importantly, the needs of our child."

"Hi highly recommend Michael.  He is a caring and kind individual.  He actually mediated himself out of a job when he consulted with my husband and I early in our divorce journey and helped us realize we weren't ready to give up on our marriage.  He spoke with us individually and together and listened to both sides with care and understanding.  He identified our unique needs and used his network to find us a couples therapist who he believed could work with our unique situation.  We've been working with her for 2 months and have already made more progress than we have in the 3 years prior working with 3 other couples counselors who couldn't connect with our unique situation."

"I recently collaborated with Michael on a mediation case and would gladly share another client at any time. His professionalism and commitment to the client goes beyond anyone I have worked with previously. He is fully committed to the best interest of the client throughout the process, and his knowledge of both finances and the legalities of divorce are highly sharpened skills which greatly affect the outcome for the client. I highly recommend Michael as a mediator for clients who are looking for expertise, and humanity which are both critically important when mediating."

"Michael Cohen's proficiency as a divorce mediator was clearly evident in the sound advice and guidance he provided to my son. His deep understanding of the complexities involved in such sensitive matters shone through as he adeptly navigated the discussions with both compassion and clarity. Michael's counsel was not only insightful but also immensely practical, empowering my son to make informed decisions during a tumultuous time. His ability to impart wisdom was particularly noteworthy. We are immensely grateful for the support Michael has provided and would highly recommend his services to anyone seeking wise and balanced guidance through the process of divorce."

"Michael is an absolute professional with a kindness and compassion that is abundantly apparent from first contact.  He is knowledgeable, experienced and has absolute pride and integrity in the work he is doing for families, couples and individuals experiencing a need for mediation. I would not hesitate to recommend him unequivocally to anyone needing his services. He displays a thoughtfulness and level of care in his work that is extraordinary. I couldn’t be happier to have worked with him; thanks again Michael."

"Michael was so helpful as our financial mediator, he helped us navigate through all the challenging stages of division. Michael kept us focused on our goal without letting our emotions take over. This was the toughest part of meditation and I honestly don’t know how we would have done it without him! Every time we derailed from the final purpose and let our emotions take over, Michael stepped in and made sure both sides felt heard, understood and were calm before we could continue. I appreciate his mind, his heart and willingness to continue to help and work with us until the completion of our case. We were lucky to have him as our mediator, I’m so thankful for all the positivity, kindness, support and care he showed to us! If you’re looking for a wonderful, dedicated human and financial mediator, I highly recommend Michael Cohen! Thank you Michael for your kind help and deep understanding of this process."

"I HIGHLY recommend Michael for anyone navigating the difficult process of divorce. From our first meeting, it was clear that he possesses a unique and genuine blend of empathy, professionalism, and expertise. Michael created a safe and respectful environment where both parties felt heard and understood. He was very communicative and would follow with clear and concise action items after each meeting.

He guided us through complex emotional and financial issues with remarkable patience and clarity, helping us reach agreements that felt fair and equitable. Michael was always well-prepared, organized, and responsive, ensuring that the process moved forward smoothly and efficiently.

Thanks to his skilled mediation, we were able to avoid the adversarial nature of court proceedings and come to a mutual agreement that prioritized the well-being of our daughter and our own peace of mind. I am immensely grateful for Michael's support during this challenging time and cannot imagine having gone through this without his expert guidance."

"Michael was so kind and sensitive to both of us during this difficult transition. Not only was he thorough and efficient at creating our agreement, we appreciated his guidance and advice on navigating the many tough decisions we faced. The whole process was much easier than I anticipated. We met weekly or if we needed more time on certain topics he never rushed us into anything and gave us grace. I would definitely recommend using Michael if you are looking for an amicable divorce. He is especially passionate about creating a parenting plan that works for both parents, but ultimately puts the kids best interest first and foremost."

"If you are looking for an experienced mediator to assist with reaching a very fair agreement with your financial issues in divorce, consider reaching out to Michael’s Mediation. Michael has experienced divorce first hand and is able to relate to his clients covering all of the details that need consideration.

Michael was fair in all aspects looking out for both parties best interests. I am very happy with Michael’s service, his professionalism assisting us with our divorce. I would highly recommend using Michael’s Mediation."

"I reached out to Michael for guidance, and although we didn’t directly work together, I was incredibly impressed by their willingness to help and guide me toward the right approach. From the start, Michael demonstrated exceptional communication skills, offering clear and thoughtful advice that made me feel confident in my next steps. He took the time to listen, understand my situation, and pointed me in the direction of the right resources and support.

What truly stood out, however, was their genuine kindness and big heart. It was clear that Michael cared not just about offering advice, but about helping me find the best possible solution with empathy and integrity. His thoughtful approach was a reminder of how valuable it is to have someone who not only knows their field but also truly wants to make a difference in others' lives.

Even though we didn’t work together directly, I’m grateful for the time Michael took to assist me, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone in need of a mediator."

"My wife and I decided to divorce and we’re so fortunate to have worked with Michael to mediate our divorce. Michael stayed calm throughout and kept us both focused on making good decisions for our children. He helped us understand how to co-parent and we built a number of co-parenting best practice principles into our agreement. Michael’s sound knowledge of the finances made us both comfortable that we were being fair. We’re both so grateful for the positive impact Michael had on our divorce. I did not expect to be able to divorce so amicably, so positively, without the stress I expected, and it saved us tremendous money that we can use to rebuild our lives and support our kids. If you are divorcing, consult with Michael, he will make an enormous difference."

"Michael was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish and made an unpleasant process very smooth and comfortable. His calm demeanor and humor lightened the mood while staying laser focused on making important decisions for our family. Michael took the time to listen and adjust to our styles and complex needs making sure we were both comfortable and comprehending our choices. I never once felt like Michael took sides, and he made sure all voices had equal input.

Michael was also able to introduce us to other wonderful professionals within his wide network to consult with and help us make the most educated decisions. His timely communication and ability to schedule sessions within our busy schedules was much appreciated and made the process much less stressful.

I’d highly recommend Michael’s services to anyone I know going through this journey."

"Michael has been absolutely amazing to work with through an otherwise very tough and challenging time in our lives. Not only is Michael incredibly strong on the “hard skills” and can help navigate and strategize through the legal process, rules, common practices and financials, but Michael also excelled on the “soft skills” such as demonstrating empathy, having a great intuition and ability to “read the room” and a strong ability to facilitate towards a mutually successful outcome in what could otherwise be a very emotional and perilous process. 

Throughout, Michael was receptive and adaptive to feedback, we never felt “stuck in someone else’s process” but instead felt like we were all partners and collaborating towards a mutual successful outcome as a result. My (ex) wife and I have since talked about what an enormous positive impact he had on our mediation process and how, relative to what it could have been, easy he made it for us. He really helped us successfully navigate towards our ultimate end-goal of an amicable divorce and post divorce friendship to the benefit of our children and us. 

Thank you Michael!"

"I highly recommend Michael as a mediator! He is professional, even tempered, thoughtful, knowledgeable, and responsive. He is a highly effective listener, is able to manage conflict effectively and kept us focused on the goal of our mediation sessions. Michael truly went above and beyond, giving us space when we needed it, checking, or providing encouragement between mediation sessions. Michael is a wonderful resource and despite any difficult conversation, can effectively remain neutral and focused. I am so grateful for the work he did during my divorce negotiations; he is highly capable and you cannot go wrong choosing Michael for your divorce mediation process."

"I’m Team Michael’s Mediation™️. Divorce is not an easy process, and Michael comes to things with seemingly unending patience and creativity to solve problems. Where I sometimes felt like there were brick walls, he would keep trying to focus for solutions. When everything else is stressful, it’s helpful to have a person who is calm and organized. I highly recommend Michael for his character, quick replies, and professionalism."

"Michael is nothing short of wonderful and gifted at what he does. From the initial 1st consultation we had to see if he is the person we wanted to work with, I felt he was for his clients best interests and would do his best to make sure he was meeting his clients needs. He went above and beyond to work with our schedules and our financial needs for mediation. You can tell he cares about what he does and puts his pride into working out the best possible outcome during a difficult period in life. In addition he is resourceful and knowledgeable in the guidance he provides. I have already recommended him to someone I know and will continue to recommend him to anyone looking for mediation. Thank you Michael!!"

"Michael was so easy and comforting to work with and I am so grateful he came highly recommended. The mediation process can be understandably stressful, but he made us both feel cared for and calm. He asked all the right questions and provided guidance when we needed it. I cannot recommend him enough."

"Michael is an absolute professional with a kindness and compassion that is abundantly apparent from first contact.

He is knowledgeable, experienced and has absolute pride and integrity in the work he is doing for families, couples and individuals experiencing a need for mediation. I would not hesitate to recommend him unequivocally to anyone needing his services. He displays a thoughtfulness and level of care in his work that is extraordinary. I couldn’t be happier to have worked with him; thanks again Michael."

"Michael has been very supportive throughout the course of a very difficult time. He kept the process on track while also respecting the pace we were comfortable moving at. He is extremely supportive and sees both sides of every conversation. Michael made this process comfortable and provided closure to a lot of unknowns."