Divorce Mediation – An Alternative To Court Divorce
Divorce mediation offers couples a welcome alternative to traditional adversarial court-based divorce, which typically involves unnecessary stress, conflict, delays and expense. The mediation process provides an avenue for both spouses to speak with a neutral attorney at the same time in order to resolve any disputed issues and move toward a final settlement to dissolve a marriage or domestic partnership. Mediation sessions can be done in person or by telephone.
The attorney mediators at Divorce Helpline will carefully explain your options, and encourage a peaceful, practical solution. Even couples that are sharply divided can find enough common ground through mediation to successfully negotiate and settle their divorce out of court, allowing them to move on with their lives.
The cost difference between a mediated divorce and a divorce trial in the California courts is significant. Superior court statistics show trial-based divorces can cost couples as much as ten times more than mediation or other non-adversarial methods. Studies also show that mediated divorces have a more positive impact on families and children involved in the divorce and custody process than litigated divorces.
Many people appreciate the control that mediation gives them over decision-making during the divorce. Matters are decided by the two people involved in the divorce, not by the court, and not by the mediator. You and your spouse make the decisions, the mediator is there to support you in making them.
There is also the benefit of creativity and flexibility when it comes to reaching agreements and settlement. Outside of the confines of the court system and the automatic dictates that determine what a retained attorney can and cannot do, divorce mediation offers wide latitude in finding solutions that fit your specific needs, while still meeting all of the necessary legal requirements.
The divorce mediation process also offers greater privacy and confidentiality than a litigated divorce. You never need to appear in court, and your mediation is handled privately by phone or in person.
Divorce Helpline can offer you the greatest level of privacy and expediency in a divorce proceeding through our Private Judge service.
The mediation process typically involves a single mediator attorney working with both spouses. However, depending on your preferences and specific situation, you may choose to have individual legal representation during mediation sessions, as well as a mediator. Divorce Helpline can also provide a team of experts such as forensic accountants, pension specialists and others who provided these same services in litigated divorces. The difference is that they act as neutral participants who do not represent either party. This team-based mediation approach can result in tens of thousands of dollars in savings, even in extremely complex cases.
You can learn more about Mediation by speaking with one of our attorneys at 1-800-359-7004.