Westlake Village California Family Law Blog

Being prepared for situations that could be challenging is a tactic that may make the going less stressful. When a California couple decides to divorce, they may choose the route of divorce mediation to settle their issues, rather than having to face litigation. Making a list of things that need to be discussed can be helpful in creating successful mediation sessions.

In creating a list, important issues should be listed in order of priority -- the ones that are most concerning are at the top and they could include issues that concern children like holidays, school, etc. The list could also include things that have been uncomfortable to talk about one-on-one with a soon-to-be former spouse. If each individual knows what is going to be discussed at mediation sessions, then one list should do, but if not, two lists could be brought to the session -- one which is more generalized and one which is detailed. 

When you decide to file for divorce in a California court, you're activating a decision-making process. If you're a parent, many of the decisions you make will pertain to your children. To achieve a fair settlement, you and your spouse will need to agree on issues concerning property division and child custody. You may also need to resolve issues regarding tax problems, child support or alimony, and collaborative law enables you to accomplish your goals in a non-confrontational manner.

Multiple people may be part of your strong support network to help facilitate collaborative sessions. This network might include financial advisers, mental health professionals and an attorney experienced in this form of alternative dispute resolution. Collaboration is typically less expensive than litigation and is also less adversarial.

Not every California couple who decides to go their separate ways gets locked into a long, drawn-out court battle. In fact, many spouses use divorce mediation to negotiate child custody agreements, property division and more. There are a few things for parents to keep in mind to help avoid confrontation and successfully mediate their divorce.

A main goal of mediation is to reach a fair and comprehensive agreement. When the foundation of a custody plan is mutual respect between parents, it is easier to resolve differences to create an amicable agreement. One of the ways parents can work together is by agreeing to avoid making negative comments about each other in front of their children.

When California parents file for divorce, they must resolve various child-related issues in order to achieve a settlement. If parents disagree about child support, custody or visitation, they may need to litigate the issues in order to find a solution. Avengers star Jeremy Renner is currently entangled in a court battle with his ex, Sonni Pacheco, who claims he has failed to financially provide for their 7-year-old daughter as ordered by the court.

Pacheco alleges that Renner has failed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support that was due by April 1, 2020. She further claims that she has nearly exhausted her own financial resources due to having to provide for her daughter's financial needs in absence of the monies Renner supposedly owes. Pacheco has also requested that the court order Renner to pay more than $100,000 in legal fees on her behalf.