Divorce can be a stressful process that involves making numerous decisions with one’s soon-to-be ex-spouse. Often, divorcing couples need help dividing property and reaching agreements during their divorce proceedings but do not want to go through the stress and hassle of bringing a judge in to settle their dispute.
One option that many divorcing couples benefit from is hiring a mediator. A divorce mediator can help couples reach an agreement on many divorce-related issues, including division of property, spousal support, child custody, and more.
If you and your spouse struggle to agree during your divorce process, hiring a mediator could be your best solution. Read on to learn more about a mediator’s role in California and how our Seabrook Law Offices divorce and family attorney team might assist you.
What Is a Mediator?
A mediator is a neutral third party who sits down with divorcing couples and helps them discuss their options and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. Mediators do not make decisions for couples, as a judge would. Instead, they help couples explore all of their options and reach an agreement on their own.
Divorce mediators have the knowledge and experience necessary to help couples reach the fairest agreements throughout their divorce proceedings. These professionals can assist couples in the following areas:
- Division of property, including assets and debts
- Spousal support
- Child support
- Family support
- Child custody
- Family planning
- Visitation
If you and your spouse are considering divorce or have already begun the divorce process, hiring a mediator is an excellent way to retain control over the crucial decisions in your case. Utilizing mediation can also teach you and your spouse effective conflict resolution skills that you can use separately or together in the future.
Who Can Benefit From Mediation?
Not all divorcing couples require the assistance of a mediator. Couples who can reach mutually beneficial agreements on their own may not need mediation services. Additionally, couples who cannot reach an agreement even with the help of a mediator may require a judge to make decisions for them.
However, many divorcing couples find mediation beneficial and effective in helping them reach the best agreements for both parties. Specifically, mediation can be constructive in the following situations:
- Divorcing couples struggling with communication: Couples who already struggled with communication before beginning a divorce case can benefit from hiring a mediator before bringing this conflict into the divorce.
- Divorcing parents discussing child custody: Couples who have a child or multiple children together and are unsure how to navigate child custody can benefit from the assistance of a qualified mediator.
- Divorcing couples who cannot agree on essential issues: Couples who are already in the middle of divorce proceedings and have trouble deciding on important issues, such as property division or spousal support, can benefit from mediation.
Hiring a divorce mediator is an effective way for these couples to make the divorce agreement process as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Reasons to Hire a Mediator for Divorce Proceedings
Hiring a mediator for divorce proceedings can be beneficial for several reasons, including a few of the most prominent ones listed below.
Reach a Decision That Both You and Your Spouse Agree On
Bringing a judge into your divorce proceedings to make decisions will ultimately result in decisions that make one or both spouses unhappy. However, hiring a mediator to help you reach an agreement ensures that you and your spouse reach a decision that you both approve of and have an equal say in.
Receive Objective Advice About Your Divorce Proceedings
Hiring a mediator who is also a divorce attorney can allow you and your spouse to receive objective, qualified advice about divorce proceedings. Divorce lawyers have extensive experience helping couples navigate the divorce process. Utilizing their expertise and skills can allow you and your spouse to reach the best agreements possible.
Contact Seabrook Law Offices in San Jose, California Today to Find “Divorce Lawyers Near Me”
At Seabrook Law Offices in San Jose, CA, we have an experienced mediator on our team ready to assist you in reaching an agreement that benefits you, your spouse, and any children involved. Family Law Attorney Elizabeth Voorhees has 16 years of experience in 11 counties in Northern California. She is a graduate of Santa Clara University School of Law, where she was honored with a scholarship from the Women In Law sorority for her outstanding work in the field of domestic violence advocacy. Post law school, Elizabeth completed two courses at Pepperdine University School of Law: Mediating the Litigated Case and Domestic Relations Mediation, a mediation course specific to Family Law. In 2005, she completed both levels of advanced training in collaborative divorce. Elizabeth and the team at Seabrook Law Offices can help you navigate the divorce process to get the second chance you need to make a fresh start.
Contact us at Seabrook Law Offices today at 408-560-4487 to schedule a consultation with our family attorney and mediator, Elizabeth Voorhees.
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The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only and may not reflect the current law in your jurisdiction. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice from the individual author or the law firm, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting based on any information included in or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or other professional advice on the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer licensed in the recipient’s state, country or other appropriate licensing jurisdiction.
Seabrook Law Offices
6840 Via Del Oro, Ste. 265
San Jose CA 95119
Phone: 408-560-4487
https://seabrooklawoffices.com
