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Palm Springs Divorce Mediator

Here at A Fair Way Mediation, we take pride in being the top Palm Springs divorce mediator for couples looking to get a divorce. With over 30 years experience, we know how stressful a divorce can be not only on you both, but family and friends. Our goal is to help you navigate the complex issues that come with a divorce so that you both can come to a mutually beneficial agreement htat will allow you both to move on with your lives. We will act as a mutual 3rd party, making sure communication continues throughout the process to ensure that it won't drag on for months on end.

We offer a free consultation, fill out our Start Evaluation form or give us a call to discuss your needs!

619-702-9174

Benefits of Divorce Mediation

Less costly both financially and emotionally
Participants determine their own solution to the problem
Confidential discussion avoids the public disclosure of private/personal issues
Non-adversarial process reduces tensions between disputants
Sessions scheduled at the convenience of the participants
Participation is voluntary
Relationships may be maintained or strengthened

EXPERIENCED. SKILLED. MEDIATORS.

When it comes to divorce issues, experience does matter. We can take learning lessons from over 30 years of experience to help couples with the issues they may face. When it comes to a divoce, traditional divorce lawyers don't often have your best interests in mind, and chare an hourly fee. You aren't aware as to what you are paying until the bill comes in and throws you by surprise. Especially when 2 lawyers are communicating with each other without you involved, these hours continue to build up. This is why mediation is the preferred choice for many couples. You will have expectations of the costs and won't get surprised by an invoice upon the dissolution agreement for your marriage.

Our role is NOT to give legal advice. Our role is to act as a neutral 3rd party to assist the couple in reaching resolutions that work for both individuals. All effort will be made to facilitate a successful negotiation. In some rare cases the mediator will be the 3rd party communication piece, but we strongly encourage couples to work directly together.

Why Mediation?

Encourages Communication

Unlike traditional divorce proceedings that can create further conflict, mediation encourages open dialogue between the spouses. By providing a supportive environment, the San Diego divorce mediation team at A Fair Way Mediation promotes effective communication allowing both parties to express their concerns and needs in a positive manner. This approach helps couples maintain a peaceful relationship, even more so when children are involved. Your San Diego divorce mediator will act as a neutral 3rd part to help sort through the issues that need to be discussed and agreed upon, giving plenty of time for each side to express their goals and work to a solution. Oftentimes with litigation, couples end up having to communicate directly with their respective lawyers which can increase the amount of time to complete the divorce and lose the ability to convey their thoughts and needs accurately to the other spouse.

Preserves Decision-Making Power

Mediation also gives couples more control over the decisions that will impact their futures. Rather than having to rely on a judge to make a final determination that will dictate your future, mediation allows couples to participate in negotiations to reach mutually agreed upon solutions. This level of control reduces the feeling of helplessnes and leads to greater satisfaction with the final settlement. Most marriages have issues that couples specifically understand for themselves, and it's difficult to have to present a case in front of a judge who does not fully understand the intricacies of your marriage and that will ultimately decide your fate based information that is provided by the respective lawyers.

Cost-Effective and Time-Efficient

Compared to a traditional litigated divorce, mediation is cost-effective alternative. The streamlined process that mediation provides can significantly reduce the legal fees. While litigation costs for a divorce can easily exceed $25,000+ per person, the average cost of a mediated divorce ranges from $3500 - $7000 (depending on the complexity of the case and the couple's ability to communicate). Mediation also provides a time-efficient solution as the average time to mediate a divorce can range from 3 weeks to 3 months, on average. With litigation, it can take up to 8 months to simply get your first hearing in front of the judge depending on the court's backlog. Couples are looking to move on and don't want the process to last longer than it needs to be which is why most couples turn to mediation.

Divorce Mediation Key Articles

WHAT SHOULD COUPLES EXPECT FROM DIVORCE MEDIATION

Excerpt: When you have both reached the decision to part ways and get a divorce, it can be one of the most significant portions of a person’s entire life. So many factors to consider such as “property division”, “child custody”, and even “pet custody!” There are so many potentially complex issues it can get very overwhelming.

There are always terrible stories about divorce and we are aware they can get very contentious and room for conflict, but divorce mediation does a terrific job of creating a calm situation where communication can bring both parties together.

IN A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE, WHAT ISSUES CAN DIVORCE MEDIATION COVER?

Excerpt: Quite often, couples in California are unaware of the divorce mediation route compared to a traditional divorce litigation route in California. But they are often surprised to hear that divorce mediation can help you with all issues of a divorce at a fraction of the price for a traditional divorce.

WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A DIVORCE MEDIATOR?

Excerpt: If you and your spouse are looking for a less adversarial way to finalize your divorce, then using a divorce mediator might be the right path for you and your spouse. In essence, a Palm Springs divorce mediator is a neutral 3rd party who is trained to help you and your spouse through the divorce process without having to enter the court process and have a judge decide on the final outcome. The goal is to keep you out of court in a peaceful setting to resolve all issues and help you both move on with your lives.

Divorce MediatOR FAQs

How much is divorce mediation compared to divorce litigation?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

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.