About Us
Licensed TX attorney 35 years. 100% family (divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, probate, modifications, etc.) law mediation practice for the past 20 years. I now mediate via Zoom. Prices are $400 per party for 4 hours. I serve on the boards of the Tarrant County Association of Mediators, Marble Falls Rotary Chapter & Highland Lakes Bar Association. I am also on the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee sponsored by the Texas Supreme Court.
How We Got Started
I opened my own law firm in 1994. I shifted to mediation full time in 2006. I moved to the Texas Hill Country from Houston in 2019.
I offer a free 10 minute phone consultation (713-847-6000) to see if we are a good fit. I do many mediations without attorneys but I carefully screen the parties to make sure that mediation is appropriate.
With Zoom, I am able to mediate all over Texas. I do not mediate outside of Texas.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (81)
"Great alternative dispute resolution services."
"Fran Brochstein is an amazing Alternate Dispute Resolution provider and a Peacemaker. She has..."
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"Fran Brochstein is an amazing Alternate Dispute Resolution provider and a Peacemaker. She has been in the business for decades. She is extremely knowledgeable and experienced. I have been consistently impressed by her professionalism, dedication and expertise in her work.
Apart from possessing excellent skills in facilitating constructive dialogue, interpersonal dynamics and respect and understanding, she is also a great mentor. She generously shares her knowledge and experience to offer guidance and support to help other succeed in conflict resolution. "
Products & Services
If you have a legal dispute (such as divorce, chid custody, child support, or dispute with a family member) an alternative to litigation (going to ...
I now do Zoom mediations for Texas families that need assistance resolving issues. My discounted rate thru 12/2020 is $250 per side for 4 hours. ww...
Recommendations Given (110)
"Ms. West is an outstanding mediator in Texas. "
"I've been using Grease Monkey for a couple of years. I've been very happy with their services...."
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"I've been using Grease Monkey for a couple of years. I've been very happy with their services. Their staff is professional. They work quickly. Reasonable pricing."
Recent Activity
I work part time. I’m not looking to grow.
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I work part time. I’m not looking to grow.
1 Reply
I am always looking for new ways to market my mediation practice.
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I am always looking for new ways to market my mediation practice.
I believe that we have a choice in life - be grateful or be miserable. I choose to be grateful & have searched for things to be grateful for during Covid. Therefore, I am grateful for many things.
I am grateful for good health. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my friends. I am...
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I believe that we have a choice in life - be grateful or be miserable. I choose to be grateful & have searched for things to be grateful for during Covid. Therefore, I am grateful for many things.
I am grateful for good health. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for my friends. I am grateful for the community of Marble Falls TX embracing me and making me feel so welcome since we moved here a year ago. I am grateful for the wisdom to know when to keep my mouth shut. I am grateful for a wonderful husband that has tolerated me & my crummy cooking while we’ve been home since March. I am grateful that I can pay my bills when my phone did not ring for 4 months.
I am grateful for Zoom and the ability for me to mediate family cases all over Texas.
I am grateful for www.instantmediations.com adding me to their Advisor list and asking me to write a monthly column for their website. I am grateful to them for introducing me to wonderful mediators all over the world. I am grateful to them and Dan Rainey for allowing me to be a part of their initial on-line mediation certification program.
My Google listing disappeared. No idea why. Around that time, I joined a BNI Chapter (small businesses that network) in my new town. Gradually as I got to know other members they wrote reviews for me and so did some attorneys that I have known for years that have used my mediation services. My...
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My Google listing disappeared. No idea why. Around that time, I joined a BNI Chapter (small businesses that network) in my new town. Gradually as I got to know other members they wrote reviews for me and so did some attorneys that I have known for years that have used my mediation services. My listing is back and I'm back on page 1 of mediation in my area of Texas. And since I joined BNI my mediation practice has been very busy. Not many referrals from BNI members but it was almost like the universe heard that I wanted more mediations and now my phone rings with new bookings. I'm booked up now weeks ahead of time. I am now mediating family cases all over Texas using Zoom.
Before March, 2020, I never touched Zoom. I did Facetime with friends and relatives - but just for fun.
Now I am an advisor for www.instantmediations.com & write a monthly mediation column for them - usually about what NOT to do as a mediator. Now I do Zoom meetings for my mediations,...
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Before March, 2020, I never touched Zoom. I did Facetime with friends and relatives - but just for fun.
Now I am an advisor for www.instantmediations.com & write a monthly mediation column for them - usually about what NOT to do as a mediator. Now I do Zoom meetings for my mediations, networking group, Rotary group, Ladies Book Club, legal & mediation trainings, and Happy Hours with friends.
I even did a Zoom presentation last month on Mediation & Domestic Violence. I have been contacted by an attorney Facebook group to do the same presentation for them within the next month.
I think Zoom has helped me remain sane. It is a way of staying in contact with others - but still being safe. Plus, I don't have to drive anywhere. I can get out of bed, grab a cup of coffee and log in for a Zoom meeting/training. I don't have to drive anywhere, have office overhead or even dress up. Plus, I've saved money on having to pay for a meal (usually around $15 or more) to attend meetings.
In the past 4 months I have come a log way in adapting to this new routine.
I am now doing Zoom mediations in several counties around Texas. I am no longer restricted to just my county. So in a way, Zoom has expanded my service area.
If we ever get back to "normal" I think that my mediation practice will be in person and also via Zoom. In large cities, it can save people an hour or more in drive-time to go to a mediation. I think that younger people, people with limited transportation and/or physical issues will prefer Zoom to having to travel to meetings in person. Lastly, for domestic violence mediations it is definitely safer since they are not near each other. The abused party can be "in hiding" but be able to attend the mediation.
I don't feel like I receive any direct benefit.
But since LinkedIn is used by many business people, I am on it.
I personally rarely use it. I will use it when someone that I don't know contacts me to try to determine who they are and if the contact is valid.
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I don't feel like I receive any direct benefit.
But since LinkedIn is used by many business people, I am on it.
I personally rarely use it. I will use it when someone that I don't know contacts me to try to determine who they are and if the contact is valid.
Before Covid I never used Zoom. Now I'm on it almost daily. I have done a few family law mediations via Zoom. So far I've settled them all. I also use Zoom for business meetings & even meetings with friends.
I now write a monthly article for www.instantmediations.com on suggestions on how to...
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Before Covid I never used Zoom. Now I'm on it almost daily. I have done a few family law mediations via Zoom. So far I've settled them all. I also use Zoom for business meetings & even meetings with friends.
I now write a monthly article for www.instantmediations.com on suggestions on how to effectively mediate. I try to keep my monthly article short and entertaining.
2 Replies
Another idea would be to post on page 1 of your website a "warning" about identity theft.
I'd also hire a cyber security company to help you "tighten up" your website & emails.
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Another idea would be to post on page 1 of your website a "warning" about identity theft.
I'd also hire a cyber security company to help you "tighten up" your website & emails.
I have been offered a line of credit many times. I turn it down every time. I don't want to take out a loan and then stress about paying it back. Plus the interest rate is usually high. I prefer to juggle bills and cut back on spending. I ran a frugal law practice for many years & I was able to...
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I have been offered a line of credit many times. I turn it down every time. I don't want to take out a loan and then stress about paying it back. Plus the interest rate is usually high. I prefer to juggle bills and cut back on spending. I ran a frugal law practice for many years & I was able to sleep at night. I know many lawyers that have huge overhead and are forced to accept clients they don't want because they need to cash flow. The practice of law is not worth it! When times were good I saved and when times were bad then I had the funds to survive. Plus, I was single so I had no one to help.
1 Reply
In Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas has a website with FREE Texas forms: www.texaslawhelp.org
It is a big site and has lots of free information & forms on it for Texas residents.
The Texas Young Lawyers also has a very nice website with lots of free information on it.
The Houston Bar...
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In Texas, the Supreme Court of Texas has a website with FREE Texas forms: www.texaslawhelp.org
It is a big site and has lots of free information & forms on it for Texas residents.
The Texas Young Lawyers also has a very nice website with lots of free information on it.
The Houston Bar Association has a website with several free booklets available on it.
