Guided divorce preparation

Build your agreement
before you need
an attorney.

SettleStart guides you and your spouse through the key topics of your separation — at your own pace, from separate devices — and produces a draft document you can bring to your attorney.

$99one-time · both parties included
The process

Four steps to a draft agreement

One session. Two people. Your own pace. No scheduling required.

1

You start the session

Enter both names, contact details, and some basic context about your situation. Takes about five minutes.

2

Share the private link

Your spouse gets a secure link to join the session on any device, on their own time. No scheduling required.

3

Work through each topic

Both parties respond privately. The session identifies agreement, suggests fair compromises on disagreements, and guides you through all key areas.

4

Download your document

Receive a formatted Memorandum of Understanding showing agreed terms and open items — ready for your attorney.

What's covered

Eight topics. Every major decision.

The session walks through each area methodically — the same categories a professional mediator would cover — and works toward agreement on each one before moving forward.

Parenting plan & custody

Legal vs. physical custody, living arrangements, holiday schedules, decision-making rights.

Child support

Monthly payments, medical and educational costs, support adjustments over time.

Primary residence

Who stays, buyout terms, sale timeline, equity split, mortgage responsibility.

Division of assets

Bank accounts, investments, vehicles, retirement accounts, personal property.

Division of debts

Mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student debt — who takes what.

Alimony / spousal support

Amount, duration, conditions for modification or termination.

Health & life insurance

Coverage for children, COBRA continuation, life insurance obligations.

Other matters

Pets, businesses, additional properties, name changes, tax filing status, and any custom topics.

What you receive

A real document.
Not a worksheet.

At the end of your session, SettleStart produces a Memorandum of Understanding written in plain language — the same kind of document a mediator would produce after a session costing $300–$500 per hour.

Agreed terms are written in clear, specific language. Unresolved items are clearly flagged, so you and your attorney know exactly where to focus.

Memorandum of Understanding
EXAMPLE DOCUMENT
Agreed terms
Parties shall share joint legal custody. Primary physical custody with Party 1, 50/50 residential schedule.
Child support of $1,450/month payable by Party 2, subject to annual review.
Marital residence to be listed for sale within 90 days. Net proceeds split 55/45.
Each party retains individual retirement accounts accumulated during the marriage.
To be resolved
Spousal support amount and duration — parties could not reach agreement. Recommend further counsel.
Division of joint brokerage account — valuation date disputed.
Attorney hourly rate (avg.)$250–$450/hr
Professional mediator session$300–$500/hr
Average contested divorce cost$15,000–$30,000
SettleStart — full session, both parties$99 flat
Why it matters

Potentially save thousands before you spend a dollar on counsel.

The more you've resolved before sitting down with an attorney, the less time you pay for. Couples who arrive with a draft agreement in hand routinely cut their professional fees by 40–70%.

SettleStart won't replace your attorney — and it's not designed to. It's designed to reduce how much you need them.

SettleStart is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The document produced is a starting point for discussion, not a binding legal agreement. We strongly encourage review by a licensed family law attorney in your state.

SettleStart is a preparation tool, not a substitute for professional legal services. The output of this session is a non-binding draft document intended to facilitate further discussion. No attorney-client relationship is created by use of this service. Always consult a licensed family law attorney before finalizing any divorce agreement.

A calmer start to what comes next.

One flat fee. Both parties. Unlimited time to complete your session.

$99one-time payment

Both parties included — your spouse never pays

  • Guided session across all key topics
  • Async — each party responds on their own time
  • Fair compromise suggestions on disagreements
  • Downloadable Memorandum of Understanding (PDF)
  • Session remains accessible for 90 days
Begin your session →