Easing the tension surrounding divorce and family law issues with high-level service in a stress-free environment.

Couple

Easing the tension surrounding divorce and family law issues with high-level service in a stress-free environment.

Experienced Mediator For Your Divorce Or Custody Case

Mediation is a unique process that is very different from the “litigation” approach or even the “collaborative divorce” approach. In each of those instances, the parties are represented by their own attorneys, and the attorneys do the negotiating for the party. In a “mediation” setting, the parties do not have lawyers, and the mediator does not represent either party.

I am attorney Edward S. Matisoff. I will walk you and your spouse through the relevant laws, policies and procedures that apply to your case. I will then guide you through a resolution of each issue, relying upon my 35-plus years of experience as an attorney in working out parenting plans and support orders and finding creative solutions for property division issues for couples in California.

What Are The Advantages Of Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation offers several key benefits over traditional litigation for couples seeking to end their marriages:

  • Cost savings: Mediation is generally much more affordable than litigation, allowing you to save significantly on legal fees and expenses.
  • Expedited timeline: The mediation process tends to reach resolution faster than court proceedings, which can drag on for months or even years.
  • Direct input: In mediation, you and your spouse have more direct control and the ability to influence the outcome through open negotiation rather than having decisions imposed by a judge.
  • Improved communication: Mediation promotes open dialogue and cooperation between spouses, which can help facilitate more productive discussions.
  • Privacy: Because mediation occurs outside of court, the personal details of your divorce remain private and are not part of the public records.
  • Reduced conflict: The non-adversarial nature of mediation minimizes hostility and combativeness between parties, compared to adversarial litigation.
  • Customized solutions: Creative arrangements tailored to your unique family situation and priorities can be crafted through the mediation process.
  • Continued co-parenting: For couples with children, mediation can help preserve a functional, cooperative co-parenting relationship moving forward.
  • Child custody: Mediation gives couples the opportunity to develop a child custody agreement that stands a much better chance of lasting.

By taking advantage of these benefits, couples can navigate their divorce more amicably, constructively and cost-effectively.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Divorce Mediation?

While mediation has many upsides, it’s important for clients to also consider potential drawbacks:

  • Good faith requirement: For mediation to be successful, both spouses must negotiate honestly, reasonably and in good faith toward a mutually acceptable resolution.
  • Power imbalances: Mediation may be unsuitable if there is a power, control or intimidation imbalance between the parties that could undermine negotiations.
  • Binding agreements: Once a mediated divorce agreement is signed, it becomes legally binding with limited recourse for appeal.
  • Perceived fairness: Without a judge’s ruling, one spouse may question whether the mediated outcome was fair and equitable.
  • Complex cases: For divorces involving substantial assets, business interests or very complicated financial situations, the legal knowledge of an experienced divorce attorney may be needed in addition to mediation.
  • Potential restart: If the mediation process breaks down without reaching a full agreement, the couple may then need to restart the process through litigation, losing time and money already invested.
  • Full disclosure: For mediation to be fully informed and fair, both spouses must provide complete and honest disclosure of all relevant financial, property and other important information.
  • Mediator’s role: The success of mediation hinges largely on the mediator’s skill and ability to facilitate productive discussions between the parties.

By understanding these potential disadvantages, couples can make an informed decision about whether mediation aligns with their specific situation and is the most ideal path forward for resolving their divorce.

How Can An Experienced Divorce Mediator Help You?

Mediation is significantly more cost-effective than either of the two other alternatives, generally costing about 20% of what one would end up incurring in a litigated or collaborative case.

At the Law Office of Edward S. Matisoff, I help you and your spouse take on the challenges that you are experiencing and work toward finding more stress-free resolutions.

Schedule A Free Consultation

I offer a free meet-and-greet consultation for you and your spouse to learn more about the mediation process and whether it is a good fit for your situation. Call my Westlake Village law firm office at 805-666-0980 or send me an email. I represent clients in the Ventura, Oxnard and Thousand Oaks regions of Southern California.