Divorce & separation
A calmer way to divorce.
Common Ground gives separating couples a private, structured space to work through the practical pieces of a divorce — assets, debts, support, and parenting plans — without escalating to a contested court fight. You stay in control of the outcome, and your costs.
Who this is for
- Couples filing for an uncontested or low-conflict divorce
- Spouses who already agree on most things and need help finalizing the rest
- Parents who want to protect children from a public legal battle
- Anyone who wants a written agreement before bringing in attorneys
Common issues we help resolve
Dividing assets and debts
Homes, vehicles, retirement accounts, joint credit cards. We help you list, value, and divide them in writing.
Spousal and child support
Walk through income figures and propose support arrangements that both parties can accept and a court can review.
Parenting plans
Build a custody schedule, holiday rotation, and decision-making framework focused on the kids — not on winning.
The family home
Sell, buy out, or co-own for a period. Document the decision and the timeline so nobody is left guessing.
How it works for this kind of dispute
- 01
Open a case privately
Choose the family workflow, describe the marriage briefly, and complete a safety screening. We invite your spouse with a secure link.
- 02
Both sides share — guided
Each spouse answers structured prompts about finances, parenting, and priorities. The AI reframing tool keeps language neutral.
- 03
Negotiate the terms
Trade proposals on each topic — support, schedules, the house. A human mediator can be added at any time.
- 04
Sign and bring to your attorney
Download a written settlement both parties have signed. Your attorney or the court incorporates it into the final decree.
Why Common Ground for this
Private by design
Nothing is filed publicly. The conversation stays between the two of you and the platform until you choose to share it.
Faster than litigation
Most cases reach a signed agreement in under two weeks, compared to months or years for contested divorce.
Cheaper, by an order of magnitude
$49 to open a case — not retainers and billable hours on both sides.
Built to protect kids
Structured prompts focus on parenting outcomes rather than blame, so children aren't caught in the middle.
Frequently asked
- Is online mediation legally binding for divorce? +
- Mediated agreements are not court orders by themselves. Once both parties sign, the document becomes a written settlement you can take to an attorney or the court for incorporation into a final divorce decree. We recommend independent legal review before signing.
- Do we both need a lawyer to use Common Ground? +
- No. You can complete the entire process on Common Ground without an attorney. We strongly recommend each party have a lawyer review the final agreement before signing — but lawyers are not required to participate in the mediation itself.
- What about custody and child support? +
- You can negotiate parenting schedules, holiday rotations, and support figures inside the platform. Final custody and support orders must still be approved by a court — we produce the written agreement that goes in front of the judge.
- What if my spouse won't agree to mediate? +
- You can invite them privately through the platform. If they decline, mediation isn't the right path right now and a litigated process may be necessary. Many people who initially refuse change their mind once they see the alternative.
A signed divorce settlement — without the courtroom.
Common Ground is a mediation platform, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.