The Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
Call it being reasonable, or working together in the spirit of cooperation, or resolving your differences amicably — the benefits that flow from taking a collaborative approach to the process of divorce are clear: Less emotional distress for families in crisis, a much lower financial burden, more knowledge and control of the outcome, and very little time wasted.
That said — it is important to remember that pursuing an uncontested divorce without the guidance of an experienced attorney does have its risks. Please view our section on Pitfalls of do-It-Yourself Divorce to understand more.
At Holstrom, Sissung, Marks & Anderson, we work towards out-of-court settlements whenever possible because we know how damaging the divorce process can be to everyone concerned. Simply put, we will always pursue your goals with our full determination and seek to achieve timely, cost-effective results with minimal damage to you or your family.
For a free telephone consultation — call any one of our Southern California office locations directly or contact us online.
Mediation
California requires parents to go through the mediation process whenever issues such as child custody or visitation rights are in dispute. In most divorce situations, however, mediation is only an option, not a requirement.
In either case, the process is fairly straightforward. Generally, spouses meet with a neutral third party mediator who serves as something of a go-between or buffer between them. At times, everyone might be together in one room; at others, each party might be in a separate room with the mediator moving between the two. In either case, the idea is to get the "conversation" started again and moving toward resolution.
Often, the mediation process will lead to surprisingly effective, if sometimes unconventional, solutions that give each individual a meaningful voice in their own future. On the downside, if both parties are not committed to a resolution of the matter through mediation, then this can cause expensive delays.
Behind the scenes, our attorneys can prepare you for these conferences, keep you advised of your rights and help you to understand what your options are so that you can make good legal decisions during the mediation itself.
To learn more about the mediation process or to find out how we can help you get through your divorce with less pain and more gain — call any one of our office locations directly or contact us online.
Free Telephone Consultations / Major Credit Cards Accepted
Orange County: (714) 408-7290 / (866) 586-8231
Riverside County: (951) 817-7665 / (866) 930-1949
San Bernardino County: (909) 327-2065 / (866) 331-9473
