Various disputes can arise when two spouses divorce one another in California. Often, the best way to address these matters is with the help of a neutral third party, or mediator.
Contact a Thousand Oaks mediation attorney at the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch for more information. Through our mediation services, you can simplify the divorce process.
A Thousand Oaks mediation attorney can assist you in a variety of circumstances. Specifically, their services may be helpful when addressing such matters as:
Mediation is often helpful when two spouses are getting divorced. In California, spouses are encouraged (and, sometimes, required) to attempt to come to mutually satisfactory agreements regarding such topics as child custody, alimony, etc. If they’re unable to do so, the courts must get involved.
This deprives either spouse of being able to exercise a degree of control over how these matters are ultimately addresed. Granting both spouses more control over these issues is one of the many benefits of mediation. Additional benefits include:
That last point is important. Although no one can promise that mediation will be successful, when it is, the process of getting a divorce often takes much less time than it would otherwise take. This can significantly reduce the amount of money a couple spends on their divorce.
The specifics of the mediation process can vary on a case-by-case basis sometimes. However, mediation tends to involve the following steps:
During the first meeting with a Thousand Oaks mediation attorney, which both spouses might attend, the goal is to ensure the mediator understands the desires of each spouse. This meeting gives everyone involved the opportunity to ask questions.
The mediator may ask each spouse to sign an agreement towards the end of the meeting. This marks the official start of the mediation process. Depending on the circumstances, the mediator might also assign “homework” to each spouse, to be completed before the next session.
This phase makes up the bulk of the mediation process. Over a series of appointments, a mediator will attempt to resolve disagreements between parties. Sometimes, both spouses may attend these sessions, but there are cases when they might attend appointments separately.
Once all the necessary issues have been addressed, a mediator will draft a document (often referred to as a settlement agreement) describing the agreements that were ideally reached via the previous mediation sessions. Each spouse will review the document and decide whether to sign it or request changes.
The mediator will submit the document for the court’s approval once it’s been signed by all necessary parties. In rare cases, the court will reject the agreement, but usually, it will be accepted without any issues.
The experience of getting a divorce doesn’t need to be as stressful as you assume it will be. With the assistance of a neutral mediator, you can address various disputes in a healthy and productive manner. Learn more by contacting the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch online or calling us at 818-237-4574.