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Downtown San Diego Divorce Mediator

If you and your spouse are looking at divorce options, whether to go the litigation route or the mediation route, there are a wide variety of reasons that mediation is right for you. For over 3 decades, A Fair Way Mediation has helped couples in San Diego and throughout Southern California with peaceful and affordable divorce services. With offices convenienty located in Downtown San Diego, we can help you complete your divorce WITHOUT going to court.

For a no cost consultation, please fill out our Start Evaluation form or give us a call!

619-985-2357

We can assist you in all aspects of your divorce, no matter how complex your divorce may be. We've helped couples with property division, child support, child custody and even pet mediation amongst the wide array of issues that can come up in a divorce situation.

The Divorce Process in California


While divorce mediation will not only save you thousands of dollars along with considerable time spent sorting out the divorce with litigation, it will allow you to settle things on your own terms without going to court.

California is one of the states that does allow (and encourages) couples to try to work things out themselves before presenting their case in court. If a divorce mediator is used, the issues will be settled out of court and the documents prepared to submit to the courts to finalize the marriage dissolution.

When to Use Family Mediation in San Diego


Mediation is a great process to help resolve the entire range of family disputes either before a divorce takes place, or if the divorce process has already started in the litigation route. If disputes continue after a divorce is completed, mediation can still help work out these lingering issues and disagreements that may still be around. This is more so if a judge has decided an outcome that 1 individual believes is completely wrong and wants to keep fighting.

In California Law, a history of abuse or allegations of abuse preclude mediation and the courts WILL NOT refer you for mandatory mediation of child custody or visitation rights, in any situation where abuse is evident.

When there is a history or evidence of domestic violence or abuse, mediation should not be used. This entails a great difference in power between the 2 parties, and mediation will not work as there needs to be some sort of trust between the parties. But if you are in need of help from domestic abuse or violence and need to reach out to someone, please reach out as we will certainly help you find the right organizations and contacts to help you. One organization is the YWCA, you can contact them ywcasandiego.org.

How Much Does Mediation Cost?


The cost of mediation can vary so much depending on the couple and their situation and issues that need to be worked out. We can safely say that the average cost of a divorce mediation is anywhere between $3,500 - $7,000. This is a fraction of the price of divorce litigation where costs an easily exceed $25,000+ (per person). A lot of the costs are brought down by how well you both can communicate and get to the agreement as quickly as possible. This will save time and money.

For a no cost consultation, please fill out our Start Evaluation form or give us a call!

619-985-2357 

About A Fair Way Mediation


As one of Southern California's top divorce mediators, A Fair Way Mediation has helped 100s of couples to obtain an affordable and peaceful divorce without going to court. We save our clients thousands of dollars in litigation fees and specialize in all forms of divorce mediation including military divorce and same sex divorce mediation. Our divorce mediators are skilled in all the facets of mediation and will guide you through the process. We provide divorce mediation services for couples throughout San Diego, Palm Springs, Riverside County and Rancho Mirage, Temecula, and Cathedral City.

We offer a no cost consultation, please fill out our "Start Evaluation" form or give us a call!

619-985-2357

Mediation Articles


THE HUMAN APPROACH TO DIVORCE: INSIGHTS INTO MEDIATION

Divorce is a difficult and emotionally challenging process that marks the end of a significant chapter in one's life. The traditional approach to divorce often involves lengthy court battles, escalating tensions, and significant emotional and financial strain on both parties involved. But that approach is a thing of the past, there is an alternative, more human-centered method of navigating this tumultuous period: mediation.

A NEW BEGINNING: THE BENEFITS OF DIVORCE MEDIATION

Divorce is an emotionally challenging chapter in many people's lives, that often comes with tension, disagreements, and uncertainty about the future. While the process can be adversarial and draining, there's an alternative that offers a more peaceful and constructive approach to resolving differences: divorce mediation. This method is gaining popularity due to its numerous benefits for couples navigating the complexities of separation.

Divorce Mediation Questions

How much is divorce mediation compared to divorce litigation?down-arrow

Many couples turn to divorce mediation as opposed to litigation because of costs. Generally, the average cost of a mediated divorce is $3500 - $7000 (depending on the complexity of the case). With lawyers, the costs can easily exceed $25,000+ (per person).

How long after mediation is divorce final in California?down-arrow

On average, the divorce is finalized within a few months with the courts. The timeline is based on a variety of factors including the complexity of the issues involved in the divorce, the court’s caseload, and whether it’s contested or uncontested. Once the agreement has been reached, the divorce mediator will prepare the final paperwork to be filed with the court.

Do I have to go to court with divorce mediation?down-arrow

No. This is another primary reason couples choose mediation over litigation. All discussions will be settled out of court, once the agreement has been made you will simply submit the final paperwork to the courts which your divorce mediator will prepare. Discussions in mediation are kept private, when the case ends up in court it becomes a public record.

In a California divorce, what issues can divorce mediation cover?down-arrow

An experienced divorce mediation firm can cover a wide range of issues related to a divorce including: Division of Property: mediation helps couples divide their marital property, including debts and assets that have been acquired during the marriage. Child Support: through discussions, mediation can assist in determining the amount of spousal support to be paid to one spouse or the other. Spousal Support: can help determine the amount and duration of spousal support payments (if any). Retirement Accounts: mediation also helps couples divide their retirement accounts and pensions. Debt: divorce mediation can assist couples in resolving issues related to marital debt (credit cards, loans, mortgages). Business Partnerships: mediation can also help divide any business interests that have been acquired during the marriage. Pet Mediation: while not as known, mediation can also help with pet custody and support during the divorce process.

What is the difference detween divorce collaborative divorce and mediation?down-arrow

Collaborate divorce and mediation are both methods that can be used in place of a traditional litigated divorce. Each methods helps couples come to a mutual agreement and avoid court. There are a few key differences between the 2 alternatives. Collaborative Divorce: Is a process where each spouse hires their own “collaboratively” trained attorney to work with them and a team of professionals, attorneys and therapists, for example. Mediation: this is the process where a neutral 3rd party (the mediator), works with both spouses to facilitate discussions and ultimately reach a final agreement. Mediators do not represent either party, they help couples identify the issues and generate options for a peaceful resolution. Key Difference: In a collaborative divorce, both parties may have their own team of professionals who work with them to find resolutions. Whereas, a trained mediator doesn’t have a team of professionals and can handle all of the aspects of the divorce.

How is child support determined in a divorce case?down-arrow

Within the State of California, child support is based on a statewide guideline formulate that takes in a few different factors. Each Spouses Income: the formulate considers each parent’s income from all sources, including salary, wages, bonuses, commissions, and investments. Custody Agreement: this is the amount of time that the child or children spends with each parent (timeshare). In general, the more a parent spends with the child or children the less support they are required to pay. Childcare Expenses: if either parent pays for childcare expenses, such as daycare, those expenses are factored in to the child support calculations. Health Insurance: if 1 parent provides health insurance coverage for the child, the cost of that is factored in to the support calculation. Miscellaneous Expenses: other expenses that may be considered in the calculation include educational needs or special needs, transportation costs, or any other expenses.

What are the benefits of divorce mediation?down-arrow

There are a variety of benefits to divorce mediation as opposed to litigation, here are just a few. Overall Costs: in comparison to litigation, mediation is much less expensive. The average cost of a mediated divorce is around $3500 - $7,000, the cost of a litigated divorce can easily exceed $25,000+ with lawyer fees and court costs. Less Stress: divorce mediation is designed to provide a peaceful environment to work out the issues, minimizing the level of conflict between the parties. More Control: with divorce mediation couples have control over the outcome of the divorce. They work together to come to an agreeable settlement that meets the unique needs and circumstances of their situation as opposed to a judge making the final decision. Quicker Process: the average time for divorce mediation from start to finish is around 3-8 weeks depending on the complexity of the case and the couples ability to communication.

Do we have to meet in person or can we mediate online or phone?down-arrow

No. You do not have to meet in person. Discussions can be done over the phone or via online video chats such as Zoom or Skype.

How do I start the divorce process?down-arrow

With divorce mediation, since mediators act as a neutral 3rd party and does not represent either spouse, it’s recommended to discuss with your spouse before exploring options. We offer a free 30 minute consultation to answer any questions you may have while also gathering information as to how we can help!

What is pet mediation and How does this work in a divorce?down-arrow

While it may seem odd to many, pets are members of the family, and just like any other issues that need to be discussed, pet mediation in a divorce discusses custody and visitation of the pets. Learn More About Pet Mediation

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