This is a very common question for couples seeking a divorce! The traditional assumption is that you both need to get lawyers to sort everything out, then go to court to let the judge decide. The primary key of divorce mediation is to AVOID court, expensive lawyer fees, and come to a peaceful conclusion. There are a lot of issues to be worked out depending on your situation such as:
Child Support
Spousal Support
Property Division
And even Pets!
We offer a no cost consultation, please fill out our "Start Evaluation" form or give us a call!
The ultimate goal is to not have to spend thousands of unnecessary dollars to reach a final martial settle agreement.
Cost
This is the primary reason couples use divorce mediation, is the cost. It is a fraction of using a divorce attorney or divorce lawyer. Using a traditional divorce lawyer can cost you a lot of money and fees often get up to $15,000+ or even a lot higher depending on the complexity of your case.
With a divorce mediator, the cost typically comes out to be about $3,000-$7,000. In rare cases does it exceed $7,000 but some circumstances can exceed that amount if you have a really complex case.
Avoid Court
We get it, no one likes to go to court. Judges can vary based on their personality and bias, though we like to assume all judges don’t have bias, this is not always the case. With mediation, you can come to an agreement in the comforts of your home via a Zoom meeting, but mediation is also available for in-person meetings to go over everything.
Time
With divorce mediation a very important item is “time”. With a divorce litigator the hourly costs can arise as the 2 sides hash things out before going to court. And if a settlement isn’t reached, can continue hashing things out for maybe months on end. Divorce mediation puts a stop to this and tries to come to a conclusion in a fairly timely manner if both parties are open to communication and cooperation.
Work for Both Parties
When each person gets their own attorney or lawyer, that lawyer will be working specifically for that person. This can create a disconnect between the 2 as they end up disliking each other over attorney and attorney fees.
With divorce mediation, WE DON’T take sides. We work for both sides, hearing each individual out, understanding the issues such as child support, or property division for example, and work on behalf of both parties, ultimately where the term “mediation” comes in.
Why Couples Turn to 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.
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.
But please don’t feel lost. Call us today for a 30-minute consultation and see if divorce mediation is right for you! Or fill out our confidential online form.
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!