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Irvine Divorce Mediation Lawyers

For those couples who want to reach an amicable divorce settlement, mediation may be an option. The idea is that both parties sit down with a mediator and work out their issues in an attempt to avoid courtroom litigation, which is often an expensive and acrimonious process.

If you feel you may be able to work out various issues with your spouse, we would be happy to schedule a consultation with you to learn about the benefits of mediation as a less adversarial approach to divorce. This process is a real benefit for couples to settle their divorce outside of court. Our Irvine meditation attorneys will discuss the pros and cons of mediation as a means to a workable divorce settlement that will cover all custody and financial issues.

If you have questions about mediating your California divorce, do not hesitate to contact us at 949-227-3001. We can guide you in the right direction during a FREE 30-minute consultation.

How Does Divorce Mediation Work?

You sit down with an independent third-party mediator who does not represent either side. They act as a facilitator to help you work out the nuts and bolts of your family law issues. You and your ex can use mediation for a variety of family law concerns, including:

Input from experts such as business valuation professionals and forensic accountants may be an important part of this process. Once the mediation process is started, it is often most beneficial financially for you to stay the course until you have worked out your difficult issues.

Mediation is not for everyone. Based on the circumstances of each case, some divorce cases require aggressive litigation – as is the case when one spouse is hiding assets or is the target of a criminal investigation. Mediating requires some give-and-take, and the ability to set aside emotions and grievances.

Is Mediation Confidential?

In most cases, any communications that you have during mediation are privileged. This means that these conversations are not subject to discovery nor can they be used as evidence unless every party involved, including the mediator, consents to it.

What Are The Benefits Of Mediation?

Mediating a dispute can offer many upsides compared to traditional litigation. Some of the benefits include:

  • Keeping matters private
  • Having more control over the outcome
  • Maintaining amicable relations with the other party
  • Reducing costs

If you can work collaboratively with your ex and you are willing to make certain compromises on the outcomes, then mediation with one of our divorce mediators might be a good option for you.

What Documents Do You Need For Divorce Mediation?

You may have heard that you need to prepare a mountain of paperwork in order to begin your divorce.  This probably sounds like an overwhelming task. The good news is that divorce mediation simplifies the paperwork process. Instead of having two attorneys who want to examine every possible document from the marriage for litigation purposes, a divorce mediator asks a series of questions to determine exactly which documents are needed to fulfill court requirements and to sort out the issues. To begin mediation, you do not need any documents at all. During the first session, the mediator will find out from both parties what kinds of financial and legal issues are at stake. Then, the mediator will provide each party with a simple checklist of documents that are needed. If you want to get a head start on gathering these documents, you can start with the last three years of tax returns as well as recent statements from bank accounts, credit cards, loans and retirement accounts.

What Are The Stages Of Mediation In California?

Although mediation looks slightly different for everyone, there are a few broad steps you will follow:

  1. Seek counsel from a family law attorney who has experience handling mediation.
  2. Work with your attorney and the attorney of the other party to hire a neutral mediator.
  3. Sit down with your lawyer to decide what you want the outcome to look like.
  4. Have private mediation sessions with the other party and the mediator in which you negotiate compromises.
  5. Sign an agreement regarding the terms of your divorce, custody dispute or other family law matter.
  6. Submit the papers for a family law judge to finalize.

This process might seem overwhelming. It often feels that way. With Maggio Law, though, you have an ally to guide you through every detail, from beginning to end.

Who Is An Ideal Candidate For Mediation?

Mediation is not for every family law matter, but when both sides in a divorce are willing to make an attempt at collaboration through their divorce, mediation is often right for them. Consulting with a divorce mediation lawyer can shed additional light on the process and how it might benefit you.

Find Out If Mediation Is Right For You

If you are in the Orange County area, contact a divorce mediation attorney at Maggio Law by calling 949-227-3001 or send us an email to schedule a consultation and to explore whether mediation might be appropriate for you and your spouse as an alternative to divorce litigation.

Attorney Gerald Maggio, along with other respected divorce mediators in Orange County, also provides virtual mediation services through California Divorce Mediators, a sister company of Maggio Law