Orange County Mediation Attorney

Divorce Mediation in Orange County

If you are filling for divorce in Orange County, one option you may strongly consider is mediation, as an alternative to litigation. Our firm offers mediation services throughout the Oranges County area that can be an extremely productive approach for individuals wanting to resolve any aspect of their divorce.  If you and your spouse can agree to sit down together and try to settle certain issues such as child custody, child support, alimony or visitation for instance, divorce mediation may be a viable possibility. Lawyer Marc E. Mitzner can represent you in mediation proceedings or may be hired as a mediator for both parties.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is a method by which the two spouses, desirous of a divorce, meet with an impartial mediator- similar to a "private judge". It is an alternative to traditional divorce litigation. The purpose of the mediation is to acknowledge the emotional and practical concerns of both parties and help them come to a resolution regarding their divorce.

The mediation is complete when the two individuals come to terms and the mediator creates a settlement agreement for the divorce. Such mediation usually takes several sessions and it is customary for both parties to equally split the mediation fees, though not imperative.

A divorce mediator is someone who usually has a background in divorce law or family counseling or is a mental health professional. While the emotional aspects of the divorce may hold more weight with a mediator who has a counseling background, it is highly advised to choose an attorney - as they can be especially helpful in drafting the agreement in a way that truly and legally reflects the desires of the parties. If you are considering divorce mediation an experienced divorce mediation attorney, Attorney Marc E. Mitzner can assist you.

Why Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is a reasonable and less costly approach to settling the decisions which need to be made in any divorce.  The approach to these decisions is one that is hopefully amiable and respectful. Individuals generally, go into the mediation process with an intention to find workable solutions -rather than trying to win an argument before a Court, as one does in a contested divorce.  In a contested divorce things can be said on either side that can be personally damaging and hurtful to the other.  In mediation it is recognized that the emotional tone of the meetings should be more civil.

Mediation can also be a way to cut the divorce costs considerably.  In a contested divorce where there financial or child custody disputes it may generally range in excess of twenty -five thousand dollars per spouse. If complex property division is part of it, then it may exceed fifty- thousand dollars per spouse.  And to add to this, such cases may take as long as two to three years.

Mediator rates are often similar to the hourly rate charged by attorneys. These are only general estimates, but one can see the extreme savings one would have-if one compares the litigation examples above to several meetings with a mediator.  Therefore , the mediation  cases may cost in the range of a quarter of what a "regular  divorce" would cost and the process often takes a much shorter  period of time - usually around six months.