If you are looking to avoid a heated and uncivilized battle, minimize the emotional and financial strain that often accompanies divorce, prenuptial agreements and other family conflicts by considering mediation. Mediation offers a consensual, non-adversarial approach that seeks to facilitate constructive communication and encourage creative problem-solving. I understand that it can be difficult to have these conversations, but I will work with you to minimize the stress at this challenging time. As a mediator and an attorney, my knowledge and experience helps guide you through the process, so you can make decisions that are best for all.
#1: Mediation is More Peaceful AND Puts Your Children First
By its very nature, divorce can get tale on its own legs once your attorneys take over. In mediation there is no win or lose. We will focus on the needs of your family, not on the past pain caused or promises broken.
The mediator does NOT represent either party; they are there to bring you and your spouse to a mutually agreeable resolution that is best for you and your family. However, unlike other mediators that are not licensed attorneys, as an attorney, I can file all required court documents.
If you think divorce is hard on you, we promise it is even more difficult for your child. It is easy to forget about your child when there is daily, weekly and monthly letters, calls and hearings at court - kids get lost in the shuffle. The decisions made in mediation are focused on one thing: How will this impact the children.
#2: Mediation Takes Less Time and is More Efficient
It’s no surprise the courts are overwhelmed and bursting at the seams: clients are waiting over three (3) months to even get infant of a judge for a pre-trial hearing! Just getting a trial date can take over one (1) year - assuming you can agree to a date that you, your spouse, both attorneys and the judge are all free.
Mediation, on the other hand, can take as little as two months from our first consultation to filing your final judgment. You and your spouse are fully in control of the divorce mediation process, moving through the process as quickly or slowly as you wish.
#3: Mediation is more Cost-Effective
An April 2013 issue of The Wall Street Journal reported that the average cost of a “friendly” attorney divorce is between $78,000 and $200,000. And that’s if all “goes well.” Could that same money go towards your children’s education instead? Could it go towards building your post-divorce life? Will you end up in debt to family, friends or financial institutions? Divorce attorneys can require an initial retainer between $10,000 and $20,000 each depending upon the complexity of your case. That means, before you even file for divorce, your divorce will cost $10,000 to $20,000. The average cost of mediation is between $5,000 and $15,000.
Mediation is more cost effective because you’re working with one mediating attorney instead of two divorce lawyers, so you’ve already cut the number of professionals involved, but still benefitting from extensive knowledge and expertise. I am licensed in California and Michigan, unlike other divorce mediators who have never stepped foot in a law school or courtroom. I have practiced law for over 10 years, cutting your cost of legal work of a non-licensed mediator in half. A non-licensed mediator would otherwise be required to hire an attorney, you have never met, to commence the legal proceedings and file your File Judgment.
More importantly, there’s no back and forth between attorneys, allowing you to resolve topics faster and keeping costs in check.
#4: Mediation Results Allow YOU to Decide
In mediation, you will discuss, agree upon and draft a document, with my help, that covers all necessary issues such as child support, how you will divide a 401K plan, where your pet will spend their time and what religion your child will be raised - based on your family specific needs.
#5: Mediation is a More Personalized and Dignified Experience
Despite all their efforts, courthouse staff and judges are so overburdened with caseloads in Los Angeles they simply can’t get to know each divorce litigant and defendant personally. The courts need to get you in, out, and on your way because they’ve got 15 more just like you on the docket before their lunch break. In mediation, however, you’ll privately get to know me and I’ll get to know you. I take the time to learn about your lives, your children’s lives, and your future goals.
Most people forget that court is a public forum. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can sit in the back of a courtroom and watch the proceedings unfold in your divorce case: your family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. The breakup of your marriage on full display and your dirty laundry hung out for all to see. What most litigants fail to realize is that each document your attorney files and each statement made therein is now part of public record; meaning your child, family, or co-worker can read each statement you’ve made about their father, mother, son, daughter, sister, brother, or employee - which can be very humiliating. Mediation, on the other hand, is completely private. No one knows what’s being discussed except you, your spouse and me.