There are a number of myths floating around the subject of divorce mediation. But the truth is mediation can be a great way to get through your divorce as amicably and quickly as possible without involving the courts.

Many believe that mediation puts one spouse at an advantage over the other, typically leaving women at a disadvantage. However, good mediators are trained to look for dominating behavior and will put a stop to mediation if one spouse persists in such behavior. Women actually usually get a better result through mediation than they do in court, as mediation takes into consideration non-legal factors. Plus, in mediation either spouse is allowed to call an end to the process at any time.

Some people believe that mediation is more trouble than hiring a divorce lawyer, but again, this is not the case. Divorce lawyers have to do a certain level of digging around and information gathering in order to make your case, but in mediation, you and your spouse agree to be upfront with each other. This allows for a streamlined divorce process that is typically less cumbersome and less expensive than turning to a lawyer.

If you're interested in learning more about divorce mediation, contact a Los Angeles divorce attorney with experience in divorce mediation.

When involved in a custody, dissolution or any family law dispute, an individual faces the most personal and difficult moments in his or her life.   It is very important that my clients feel that their rights are being protected and that their concerns will be heard.  This is why I am committed to being an aggressive and zealous advocate for my clients.  I have much compassion for my clients who are struggling to cope with their emotionally demanding family issues, and I have made it my ongoing objective to be at my best when approaching my clients' goals.

Erica L. Grand

Attorney at Law

Claery & Green, LLP

Family law encompasses a wide variety of legal issues such as: child custody, support payments, divorce, domestic partnerships and restraining orders. As a family law attorney you are called upon to act on behalf of your client during what is often one the most troublesome times in their life. The stakes and emotions are extremely high and your rights must be protected.  

That is why my number one objective is to be a zealous advocate for my clients' rights. As a zealous advocate, it is my job to effectively communicate with my clients to develop the important facts, apprise them of the law, and keep them continuously updated about the status of their case. As a zealous advocate, I am ready to fight for my clients' rights until the very end.

The family law court system can be very frustrating. If you or a loved one is involved in the system, you need a zealous advocate to help you fight your way through.    

Kyle Puro, Attorney at Law
Claery & Green, LLP

Often times, when people are going through a divorce, they find that they cannot come to an agreement on the issues that matter most.  For example, spouses may have heated battles over who should have custody of the children or who should have to pay child support.  These battles can go on for weeks, months and even years and are never productive.

Instead of dealing with constant disputes, spouses can go through divorce mediation.  During divorce mediation, spouses will meet with a "mediator" who will listen to each person's side of the story and work to mediate through areas of contention.  The mediator will also help spouses reach amicable solutions and agreements that not only benefit both parties, but expedite divorce proceedings.

As you can see, divorce mediation can be a great option for spouses who need third party intervention.  The key is finding a mediator that is not bias, knowledgeable, experienced and local.

If you are currently going through a divorce in Los Angeles, know that the attorneys at Claery & Green are committed to your cause.  We would welcome to the opportunity to speak with you about your case.  Contact us to speak with a Los Angeles divorce attorney from our law office.  

Divorce can either be settled through mediation or litigation.

When possible, it’s in both parties’ best interest to try to resolve their divorce through mediation. Mediation gives the parties control to negotiate the terms of their divorce and resolve issues such as property division, child custody, child support, and  alimony without intervention from the court. Furthermore, the process of mediation is much less stressful, time-consuming, and expensive than litigation, and is very helpful in fostering communication. During mediation, the parties come together with a neutral mediator whose job it is to help the parties work through conflict, facilitate negotiations, and reach a settlement based on the parties’ own terms. 

There are times when a divorce needs to be battled out in court, and this situation is referred to as litigation. Litigation is necessary for those cases in which the parties cannot seem to agree on any aspect of their divorce, and therefore are not able to settle the divorce through mediation or alternative dispute resolution. Because litigated divorce cases take place in court, they often take a lot longer to settle and finalize than those divorces resolved through mediation. And because it tends to take longer to resolve a divorce in court, the cost of litigation is often much higher than the cost of mediation. Furthermore, contested divorces tend to be more emotionally taxing, stressful, and difficult on everyone involved, especially children.

With all that said, both mediation and litigation are effective ways to settle a divorce. If you are interested in learning more about either one of these forums, a San Diego divorce lawyer at Claery & Green would be happy to meet with you to discuss your case and determine what your legal objectives entail. To schedule an appointment, contact Claery & Green today at (619) 299-2008 or (760) 526-0440.

If you have been served with a petition for dissolution of your marriage(divorce), you are likely wondering what you need to do.  It is imperative that you respond to the petition in a timely manner and that your response is filed and served properly.  Otherwise, you will be at risk of being defaulted.  This means that the petitioner may obtain orders in your absence (a Default Judgment); and they will likely be unfair orders.  It is imperative to take a proactive approach in any litigation you are involved in.  In addition to properly filing a response, you may want to pursue temporary orders to address issues while the divorce process occurs.  This is especially important if you need temporary child custody and child support orders, spousal support orders, exclusive use and possession of the home you and your spouse live in, and order for any other issue that must be addressed promptly.  To obtain these orders an Order to Show Cause  request must be filed with the court.   

  A divorce will ultimately result in final orders set forth in a Judgment.  These orders will dissolve the marriage and the issues related to the marriage.  These issues include child custody, child support, spousal support, division of the marital assets and debts and many other issues.  The paperwork filed with the court must be prepared properly, filed timely and served in the correct manner.  In addition the discovery process may be initiated to investigate the existence and value of assets, debts, the opposing party’s income and compensation and to uncover the opposing party’s position regarding the issues, among other things.

It is critical to avoid a passive, “wait and see,” approach in a dissolution.  Do not rely on the opposing party’s advice on what you are entitled to.  Also, keep in mind that if your spouse has an attorney, that lawyer is advocating for your spouse and only your spouse.  The best approach is to immediately consult with an attorney.  If you feel comfortable with that attorney, he or she can help you get through this difficult time.  An attorney will make sure your documents are prepared properly and filed and served in a timely manner.  Most importantly, you will be advised as to your rights and what you are entitled to.  You make the decisions; however you should be well informed throughout the process.

Our attorneys are passionate about family law and dedicated to making sure our clients feel like they have an aggressive team of advocates on their side.  It is important not to feel alone during the emotionally charged and stressful divorce process.

Lance Claery, Partner
Attorney at Law
Claery & Green, LLP