DIVORCE MEDIATION

For the Adults

From our perspective, the goal of divorce mediation is to minimize the damage of divorce. Mediation is based on a desire to create a “win-win” proposition for every party involved. Why? Because mediation relies on an internal locus of control vs. an external locus of control. That is, you and your spouse take control of what is often a bad situation. There is no judge imposing his or her decision regarding property or child custody on either party. Drug and alcohol counselors have known for decades that individuals who voluntarily come in for treatment are more likely to enter into the recovery process far more fully and successfully than those who are forced to come into treatment court-ordered. The same principle applies in divorce mediation. Those who enter divorce mediation are more likely to have a higher degree of satisfaction with their divorce and post-divorce life, than those who go through the traditional adversarial court process.

For the Children

Not only do the couples benefit from mediation verses the traditional adversarial divorce process, so do the children. In fact, the children can be the real winners in the mediation overall (and the real losers in an adversarial divorce process). Someone once said that divorcing parents need to put their love for their children far ahead of any hard feelings that they have for each other. Mediation can help with that process. One thing is for sure, your children can benefit well or poorly depending on how you deal with difficult situations. If you have children, you will always share that bond with your soon-to-be ex-spouse. Why re-create any pain you feel over your situation, over and over again, when contact between you and your ex-spouse has to occur because of the children? Those are scars that children can take with them for a lifetime. Yes, you will experience pain with this process, but avoid making your problems theirs and model the most peaceful resolution possible.

Other Advantages of Divorce Mediation

  • Mediation costs a fraction of the traditional divorce. A “good” divorce attorney can charge upwards of $8000.00 for his or her services. That is a combined $16,000, or more, coming out of a family’s budget. We generally charge $2500.00, typically split evenly between the couple (less if there are demonstrable financial hardships). That is an 84% savings right off the top.
  • Mediation is non-adversarial. If you are looking to “stick it” to the other person, then mediation is not for you. However, if you want to dissolve a marriage with as little collateral financial and emotional damage as possible and increase your chances of maintaining any relationships that you value (e.g., children, mutual friends, other family members you may actually share close bonds with, etc.), then mediation might be what you have been looking for to end this already painful divorce-related process.
  • Mediation is efficient. Disputes can often be successfully mediated within 4-6 weeks of initiating the medication process. Often only a handful of sessions are necessary.
  • Mediation is confidential. Information disclosed during the mediation process generally cannot be used as evidence in other legal proceedings.

What Sets Us Apart

We offer a number of FREE post-divorce services which in include email support, resources for parenting  as a single parent, dating, a podcast, and a private blog for clients only.  In short, you are not alone in the divorce process.

Contact Us

If you live in Temecula, Riverside, or Northern San Diego County area and are considering divorce mediation as an alternative to traditional divorce, please contact us for a free consultation.