Texas law, explained
The short answer
John B. Polk is a Dallas family law mediator who has practiced family law for more than 25 years and has resolved hundreds of cases in mediation, as an attorney or as the mediator. He mediates divorce, custody, modification and property disputes, including cases with business interests, in person at his Turtle Creek office or over Zoom, in a joint session or separate rooms. To book, call 214-599-2020 or use the contact form with the cause number, court, parties, counsel, open issues and preferred dates.
What John mediates
John mediates the full range of family law cases, before or after filing:
- Divorce. Division of the community estate, separate-property claims, the home, retirement accounts and spousal maintenance.
- Custody and support. Conservatorship, the possession schedule, relocation and child support.
- Modifications and enforcement. Post-decree changes to custody, possession and support.
- Business and complex property. Closely held businesses, professional practices and larger estates, where valuation experts, forensic accountants or CPAs have done the groundwork.
He has worked with valuation experts, forensic accountants, CPAs, tax advisors and financial planners on property and business cases, so the session can start from the numbers the experts have produced. As mediator he is neutral and represents neither party.
Formats: Turtle Creek or Zoom, joint session or separate rooms
Sessions take place in person at 2911 Turtle Creek Blvd., Suite 300, Dallas, or over Zoom with private breakout rooms. Counsel and clients can join from the same place or from separate locations.
The structure follows the case. Parties who communicate well can work in a joint session for some or all of the day. In high-conflict cases, the parties stay in separate rooms and John carries proposals between them. Where there are family-violence concerns, tell him when booking so the session can be set up with the protections Texas Family Code § 6.602(d) and § 153.0071(f) call for, including no face-to-face contact.
How to book
Call 214-599-2020 or use the contact form. To set the session quickly, send:
- The cause number and the court, or a note that the case is not yet filed.
- The parties and all counsel, with contact details.
- The issues still open: property, business interests, conservatorship, possession, support, maintenance.
- Whether the session should be in person or over Zoom, and joint or in separate rooms.
- Preferred dates, and any court-ordered deadline for mediation.
Sessions and rates, as published on John's booking calendar: a half-day Zoom mediation runs 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at $600 per party, and a full day runs 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at $1,000 per party. Payment is due 3 days before the mediation, and a confirmation of mediation letter goes to counsel.
What you get when the case settles
When the case settles, the session ends with a signed mediated settlement agreement. It is drafted to meet Texas Family Code § 6.602(b) or § 153.0071(d): a prominently displayed statement that it is not subject to revocation, signed by each party and by each party's attorney who is present. A party is then entitled to judgment on it.
If only some issues settle, a partial agreement records them and the rest go to the court. Counsel then prepare the decree or order from the agreement. Communications in the session stay confidential under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 154.073.
Parenting facilitation referrals
Some cases settle at mediation but the co-parents keep returning to the same disputes. For those families, John also serves as a parenting facilitator or parenting coordinator for Dallas–Fort Worth co-parents, a role he has filled since 2012, and many co-parenting disputes are settled in one or two Zoom meetings.
A parenting facilitator, appointed under Texas Family Code § 153.6051 and following, works in a process that is not confidential and may testify; a parenting coordinator's role is different. Details for counsel and parents are on the parenting facilitation page, and the co-parenting communication tool is at CPiQ.
John is a great attorney who will work with you collaboratively and effectively through the most difficult of situations. He is extremely professional and knowledgeable and a great resource to have on your side. He is always looking out for best interests of his clients at all times.
Questions people ask
How do I book John B. Polk to mediate my client's case?
Call 214-599-2020 or use the contact form on this site. Send the cause number, court, parties and counsel, the open issues and your preferred dates, and say whether you want the Turtle Creek office or Zoom.
What kinds of family law cases does he mediate?
Divorce, custody and support, post-decree modifications and enforcement, and property disputes, including cases with closely held businesses and larger estates. He has worked with valuation experts, forensic accountants, CPAs and tax advisors on property and business cases.
Does he mediate over Zoom?
Yes. He mediates over Zoom with private breakout rooms as well as in person at his Turtle Creek office. Counsel and clients can join together or from separate locations.
Can the parties be kept in separate rooms all day?
Yes. In high-conflict cases, the parties can stay in separate rooms, in person or in breakout rooms on Zoom, while John carries proposals between them. A joint session is used only where it helps.
What if there is a history of family violence?
Tell the office when you book. Under Texas Family Code § 6.602(d) and § 153.0071(f), a party may object to mediation on that ground, and if mediation goes forward, the court must order protective measures such as no face-to-face contact and separate rooms.
Do the parties need to bring their attorneys?
Counsel attending is common and helpful, and an attorney who is present signs the mediated settlement agreement along with the client. Texas law does not require a party to have a lawyer at mediation, but John, as the neutral, cannot advise either party.
What does the mediated settlement agreement look like?
It records every settled term and includes a prominently displayed statement that it is not subject to revocation, signed by each party and each attorney present, as Texas Family Code § 6.602(b) and § 153.0071(d) require. A party is then entitled to judgment on it.
Can a case that settles only in part still use the agreement?
Yes. A partial mediated settlement agreement records the issues that settled, and only the remaining issues go to the court. Make sure it states clearly which issues are resolved and which are left open.
Can he mediate a case involving a business?
Yes. Business interests and larger estates can be mediated like any other property, and the session is most productive once valuations or forensic work are complete or a joint expert has been agreed. He has worked with valuation experts and forensic accountants on business cases.
Can a mediated case be referred for parenting facilitation afterward?
Yes. Where co-parents keep returning to the same disputes, John serves as a parenting facilitator or parenting coordinator, which he has done for Dallas–Fort Worth co-parents since 2012. See the parenting facilitation page for how appointments work.
Guides on this topic
MediationWhat Happens at a Divorce Mediation in DallasWhat the first divorce mediation session looks like, what documents to bring, how long it takes and whether you need a lawyer in the room.
MediationIs a Mediated Settlement Agreement Binding in Texas?What makes a Texas mediated settlement agreement binding, whether you can change it later and what happens if mediation ends without a deal.
MediationIs Online Divorce Mediation an Option in Texas?Divorce mediation over Zoom follows the same rules as mediation in person. Here is how a session runs, how agreements are signed and when it fits.