Divorce Court or Mediation: What’s The Difference?

When most people think about divorce, they think about courtroom drama, nasty allegations, endless arguing and ever rising costs.  A contested courtroom divorce can take years.  If children are involved, it often hurts them.  There is another way.

Imagine never having to go to the courthouse.  Imagine sitting down in a safe place and working out the best solutions to the problems of a divorce.  Imagine getting your divorce done quickly, effectively and moving on with your life.  Imagine you and your spouse, and not the lawyers or court, dictating the terms of your divorce. A mediated divorce gives you this opportunity.
Call , at 760-657-2257 or contact us online for your FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION for help at every stage of the divorce process.

Mediation and Collaborative Divorce

When most people think about divorce, they think about courtroom drama, nasty allegations, endless arguing and ever rising costs.  A contested courtroom divorce can take years.  If children are involved, it often hurts them.  There is another way.  Imagine never having to go to the courthouse.

Imagine sitting down in a safe place and working out the best solutions to the problems of a divorce.  Imagine getting your divorce done quickly, effectively and moving on with your life.  Imagine you and your spouse, and not the lawyers or court, dictating the terms of your divorce. A mediated divorce gives you this opportunity.

When A Mediation Agreement Is Possible.

We can’t agree on anything. Why do you think we are divorcing?  Well, the truth is that most people, with the help of a good mediator, can reach an agreement.  Even in “contested” cases, most of the time the parties finally reach a compromise and agreement.  The delay and expense of the courthouse process just wears them down, or runs them out of money, or both.

What is the Cost?

The typical “contested” courtroom divorce is less expensive up front compared to the typical mediated divorce but gets more expensive at the case goes on.  Courtroom appearances, depositions, the formal discovery process including subpoenas for financial records drive the cost up. Lawyers are like expensive taxis. The longer you drive them the more it costs you.

With a mediated divorce, the up-front cost may be more but the overall cost is usually much less and the divorce is done much more quickly than a contested case.  The cost savings are obvious.

The Best Benefit

The best benefit to mediated divorce is that it works after the divorce.  When the parties work out their agreement, they usually stick to their agreement. They are invested in it.  They get out of the “fight it out” mentality.  They go on with their lives.  They don’t go back to court every year to try and change what the court forced on them or to re-argue old issues.  They get their lives back.

Contact Me Today

Call , at 760-657-2257 or contact us online for your FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION. My office is in Vista, and I represent clients in California and military personnel worldwide.