You have several options for obtaining a divorce in California. Some couples first work through some type of mediation or collaborative process before they present their agreement to the court. Although divorce mediation and collaborative divorce may look the same to someone unfamiliar with this process, they’re very different. With mediation, you’ll work with a mediator who serves as a neutral party to work out an agreement. Although collaborative divorce is designed to use mediation and negotiation to reach a settlement, it still requires you both to seek legal representation for yourselves. When making the decision between the two, it helps to know these benefits of choosing a mediated divorce from the very beginning.
Maintain an Amicable Atmosphere
If you have children or any other need to talk to your ex-spouse in the future, it’s best to keep things as amicable as possible. When a divorce is handled well, you should both come out of the process feeling as though your needs have been met. Divorce lawyers are meant to represent the best interests of their clients only, which means bringing two of them into the situation instantly increases feelings of animosity. Mediators are neutral and employ strategies to defuse tense situations. Avoiding arguments and hurt feelings helps the process move along faster and feels better overall.
Preserve Your Assets
Divorce involves splitting your current household into two, which may mean making some changes regarding your finances. You may now be trying to live on a fixed income as you try to purchase your own house or even find a job if you were a stay-at-home parent. Hiring two lawyers is much more expensive than paying for one mediator. Saving money during such a critical time means you can put it toward other important things you need to begin your new lives apart.
The high cost of hiring divorce attorneys is a major concern for most couples. Fortunately, mediation provides an alternative that costs much less and focuses on finding creative solutions that meet the emotional and practical needs of both spouses. All the financial, legal, and practical aspects of respectful divorce agreements can be managed by Divorce Options San Diego’s experienced, trustworthy divorce mediators. San Diego couples can rely on our specialized comprehensive process, which is so thorough they won’t need to hire attorneys.
Finish Your Divorce Faster
California has a six-month waiting period after you file your petition for a divorce. On average, mediated agreements take about two to three months to complete, although Divorce Options San Diego’s clients can expect much shorter timelines—it usually takes us only 4–6 weeks to finish the filing. A collaborative divorce can take much longer, since the lawyers tend to escalate tense situations. In addition, collaborative divorce requires a financial advisor, a psychologist/therapist, a divorce coach, and two attorneys, which can drive up cost, time, and complexity. These divorces can take anywhere from eight months to over a year. Mediation firms that manage all those tasks in-house make the process much more efficient, cheaper, and faster.
Maintain a Greater Sense of Empowerment
Mediators take a different approach to divorce planning compared to lawyers. In many situations, lawyers tend to advise their clients regarding what they should do. You may even feel pressured to go with what your attorney says, even when it goes against your preferences. With a mediator, there’s no pressure involved. Instead, mediators simply guide you through the decision-making process. Having a greater sense of empowerment is beneficial during a time when you’re already dealing with a lot of uncertainty.
Couples who want to make the divorce process as smooth, respectful, and amicable as possible can choose a fantastic alternative to the hostility and high expense of hiring divorce attorneys: divorce mediation. San Diego couples trust Divorce Options San Diego’s experienced divorce mediators to handle every aspect of their divorces, and our focus is on ensuring fairness and mutual satisfaction for both spouses. To learn more about how divorce mediation can be the best option for you, call the expert mediators at Divorce Options San Diego today at (858) 281-2628.
