When a legal matter affects your family, it can be a difficult and emotional experience. Whether you are going through a divorce or need assistance with another family matter, an experienced lawyer and mediator can help you find a solution to your legal problem so you can move forward.
It would help to have someone you could rely on for sound advice, compassionate support, and the skilled representation necessary during this difficult time. My firm partner, Stephanie Rose O’Connor, and I, Ronald K. Stitch, represent clients in various family law matters in Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Los Angeles, and Ventura counties. We can help you through a legal separation or divorce. We can assist with other family law matters like spousal support, child support, child custody disputes, paternity, prenuptial agreements, stepparent adoptions, division of retirement accounts, and post-judgment modifications.
Why Hire Ronald K. Stitch, a Certified California Family Law Specialist And Knowledgeable Mediator?
As the founder of this firm, I, Ronald K. Stitch, have more than 35 years of legal experience. I have represented thousands of clients in divorce and family law matters. I am certified as a Family Law Specialist by The State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization. Because I want to provide you with experienced and knowledgeable representation, I practice exclusively in divorce and family law matters.
I was a civil litigation attorney for the first ten years of my practice. As a result, I have strong negotiation skills and considerable trial experience. I also know from experience the risks and costs of litigation, so I encourage anyone facing divorce to consider mediation.
While I’m a family law attorney, I am also an experienced mediator. I believe strongly that family law mediation is a superior option for most individuals who face divorce or other family law disputes.
If mediation is not suitable for you, I can provide the experienced legal representation you require. Regardless of how you want to handle your family law matter, you will have a strong advocate.
Mediation vs. Divorce: Westlake Village Mediation Attorney Explains Critical Points
What is mediation used for?
Mediation can be helpful when resolving such family law issues as:
- Divorce
- Child custody
- Parenting time
- Post-divorce disputes
Those are merely a few examples. Consult with an expert at our mediation law firm serving Westlake Village, Los Angeles, and Ventura County to learn if a mediator can assist you with your family law needs.
Mediation can be particularly valuable when you and your spouse are getting a divorce. Consider the following points:
Mediation can save money.
There is no official answer to the question, “How much does it cost to get a divorce in California?” However, research indicates that the average cost is about $17,500.
Many factors can influence the cost of divorce, the duration of the process being a particularly noteworthy example.
Generally, the more time it takes to finalize a divorce, the more money you will need to spend. This is one of many reasons it is wise to enlist the help of a Westlake Village and Ventura County mediation attorney when ending a marriage.
Mediation aims to help divorcing spouses reach amicable agreements on contentious matters more quickly and efficiently than they otherwise might. Allowing a mediator to help you and your soon-to-be ex address various disputes in these circumstances could save money and avoid significant frustrations.
Preserving an amicable relationship
Is remaining on generally friendly terms with your spouse despite your marriage ending in divorce among your priorities? There are many reasons you may feel this way.
Perhaps you and your spouse have realized that you still wish to be friends while you cannot sustain a healthy marriage. Achieving this goal can prove difficult if you fight back and forth over numerous issues when getting a divorce.
Additionally, if you have children, you might want to stay on good terms with your spouse to minimize the stress and pain your kids will experience while your marriage ends.
Again, a mediation attorney can help you and your spouse come together in agreement on critical issues instead of allowing emotionally fraught disputes to be drawn out. Working with one may prevent you and your spouse from becoming enemies throughout the divorce process. This will also guard against long-term resentment.
Staying in control
In California, when two spouses getting a divorce cannot agree on various issues, the court often addresses these issues for them.
If a judge makes these decisions for you and your spouse, your ability to exercise control in many critical areas of your life, such as how often you see your children, will be minimal. Luckily, through the mediation process, you can have more input, improving your chances of arriving at a fair outcome for all parties when your divorce is finalized.
What Types of Family Law Issues Do We Handle in Westlake Village and Ventura County, California?
Divorce and mediation are not the only family law cases our firm handles. We can also assist you with such matters as:
- Modifications to child custody, child support, and spousal support orders
- Premarital agreement
- Paternity disputes
- Stepparent adoption
- Legal separation
- Guardianship
How Do I Prepare for a Free Consultation With a Family Law Attorney in California?
Preparing for your initial consultation with a lawyer can help you take full advantage of this first meeting with an attorney. Steps you may take in preparation for your consultation with a Westlake Village family lawyer include the following:
- Gathering copies of relevant documents, such as court orders, divorce decrees, financial documents, and any other documents that relate to your case
- Make a list of questions you wish to ask the attorney
- Writing a description of the nature of your family law issue so that you can fully and accurately describe it without worrying about forgetting to include any critical details
- Arriving at a general idea of what your goals are while also being willing to consider other options that you may discover through mediation
- Preparing yourself to be fully honest with your attorney when discussing your case’s details
What Questions Should I Ask a Westlake Village Family Law Attorney During a Consultation?
Along with questions you may have that are specific to your case, questions to consider asking a family law attorney during your initial consultation include the following:
What is your experience handling cases like mine?
Although an attorney may not be able to share specific details about past cases due to confidentiality issues, you want the peace of mind from knowing they have experience working with clients.
How do you typically handle cases similar to mine?
A qualified attorney will tailor their strategy to your specific case and goals. That said, they can give you a general idea of potential strategies during a consultation.
What are the potential outcomes of my case?
The best way to learn about realistic potential case outcomes is to discuss this issue with a lawyer during a case review.
How do you keep clients informed about the progress of their cases?
You don’t have to stress and worry about the outcome of your case when it has yet to be resolved. Ensure your lawyer is available to update you on its progress.
If you need assistance with a family law issue in Westlake Village, Los Angeles, or Ventura County, we at the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch are here to help. Remember, we offer mediation services whenever applicable, allowing you to resolve these matters with minimal conflict.
Schedule A Free Consultation
To schedule a free consultation to discuss how I or my associate Stephanie Rose O’Connor can help you with your family law dispute, please call our team at 818-237-4574 or email us. We are located in Westlake Village and serve clients throughout Ventura County.
