In lieu of the traditional divorce process that can be protracted, painful, and costly, more couples are opting for divorce mediation instead. Rather than hiring two attorneys, the divorcing couple hires one mediator who will help them  come to a settlement regarding their belongings, monetary assets, property, and, if present, their children.

Mediators are not only a more cost-effective solution to divorce proceedings, but also minimize the emotional toll that the separation process can induce on both parties. Just the fact that couple will, on average, save 40 to 60% off the standard cost of filing for a divorce can account for lower stress levels.

Children also fare better during divorce mediation as well, as the parents remain in control of a cooperative plan for parenting. Their children's needs and desires can be discussed during the mediation and resolved through mutual avenues, rather than relying on a judge's ruling. 

Do you have questions about divorce mediation?  If so, contact us today to speak with a Los Angeles divorce attorney.

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.

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.