Divorce mediation for federal employees, benefits included
A federal career comes with benefits most divorce processes treat as an afterthought: a FERS annuity, the Thrift Savings Plan, FEHB health coverage, FEGLI life insurance, and survivor benefits. I’m Sara Khan, and I spent close to two decades in federal consulting before founding Olive Branch Mediation. I help federal families sit down privately, understand what they have, and decide together how to divide it, from anywhere in the country.
Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation Call (703) 727-8839Free and confidential · Virtual sessions anywhere in the U.S. or overseas · In person in Northern Virginia
Reviewed by Sara M. Khan, JD, Principal Mediator · Updated October 2026
What federal couples bring to mediation
Every benefit is discussed openly, with the information you both need to make informed choices:
FERS or CSRS annuity
Whether and how to share the marital portion of the pension, and how that share is calculated.
Thrift Savings Plan
Dividing TSP balances, handling outstanding TSP loans, and timing the transfer.
Survivor annuity
Whether a former spouse survivor annuity will be provided and who bears its cost.
FEHB health coverage
What continued coverage options a former spouse may have, and planning for the gap if there are none.
FEGLI life insurance
Whether life insurance will secure support or a pension share, and who is named as beneficiary.
Parenting & support
Schedules that work around shift work, travel, telework, and relocation, plus child and spousal support.
Agency rules shape what an agreement can do
OPM and the TSP will only divide benefits under a court order that uses the language they require. A FERS annuity share, a former spouse survivor annuity, and a TSP division each have their own rules, and some choices, such as survivor benefits, are hard or impossible to add later if they’re left out of the original order.
That’s why it pays to settle the decisions calmly first. In mediation we build a clear record of what you’ve agreed to for each benefit, so the attorney who drafts the order knows exactly what to put in it and nothing important falls through the cracks.
I’m a mediator, not your lawyer. Benefit-division orders have to be drafted by an attorney and accepted by the paying agency, so I always recommend each of you have independent counsel review the agreement before anything is signed or filed.
From first call to a written agreement
Free consultation
A 15-minute call to see whether mediation fits your situation and answer your first questions.
Private intake
A confidential screening call with each of you, plus a checklist of the documents to gather, such as your OPM and TSP statements and FEHB enrollment.
Joint sessions
Focused virtual sessions (or in person in Northern Virginia) to work through parenting, support, and every benefit, one decision at a time.
Written MOU
A detailed Memorandum of Understanding you each take to your own attorney, who turns it into the final agreement and any benefit orders.
Family mediation pricing
Fees are for the mediation as a whole, not per person, and most couples split them. Published prices mean no surprises:
- Family Clarity Session — $1,200. Up to 4 hours: a private screening call with each of you and one 2-hour joint session, with a written summary of where you agree and what’s still open.
- Full Family Mediation — $3,600. Up to 14 hours: up to three joint sessions covering parenting, support, and property, plus a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding.
- Complex Family Mediation — $5,400. Up to 22 hours for higher-conflict matters or significant assets, business interests, or blended-family considerations.
- Hourly — $300/hour, shared by both of you, with a 2-hour minimum per joint session and no retainer.
Why work with Sara
Before founding Olive Branch Mediation I spent close to two decades working in and around federal agencies. I know the vocabulary, the paperwork, and the way a federal schedule really works, so you won’t spend paid session time explaining what a FERS supplement or a TSP loan is.
In mediation I stay neutral: I don’t take sides, and I don’t tell either of you what to do. My job is to make sure every benefit gets put on the table and that you both leave understanding what you agreed to.
- J.D., University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law; George Mason University alum
- Close to two decades in federal consulting, legal operations, and organizational strategy
- Mediation training: 40-hour basic mediation, 24-hour family mediation, and a 4-hour Virginia Judicial System orientation
- Neutral by design: I don’t practice law, give legal advice, or represent either side
Federal employee divorce questions
Can we mediate if we live in different states or overseas?
Yes. Because I’m a private mediator rather than a court-assigned one, I work with federal families anywhere in the U.S. and abroad virtually. Your final agreement is filed in the state where your divorce is handled, through your attorneys.
Will mediation cover my FERS pension and TSP?
Yes. We’ll talk through each benefit, what portion is marital, and the options for dividing it. Your attorney then prepares the court orders OPM and the TSP require to carry out what you’ve agreed.
Can my former spouse keep FEHB health coverage?
Sometimes. Federal rules allow continued coverage for some former spouses who meet specific conditions, and temporary continuation is available in other cases. We’ll make sure the question is on the table so you can confirm eligibility with your attorney and benefits office.
Do we still need attorneys?
I recommend it. I don’t give legal advice or represent either of you. Most couples have their own attorney review the Memorandum of Understanding and draft the benefit orders, which usually costs far less than having attorneys negotiate everything.
Is mediation confidential?
Yes. What’s said in mediation stays in mediation, which many federal employees value, especially those with security clearances or public-facing roles.
More answers on the full FAQ page.
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