The Mediation GroupBridging Solutions to Family-Centered Issues
The Mediation Group serves couples seeking to divorce through amicable, timely and cost-effective means. As neutral parties, we facilitate productive communication in order to create personalized agreements for divorcing couples and their families. Our expertise is backed by over 15 years of training and experience in legal issues and social dynamics. In addition to divorce mediation, we specialize in conflict resolution covering a broad spectrum of family-oriented issues.
The Mediation Group provides a co-mediation model, working as a team to offer you the advantage of our different skill sets and perspectives. We draw upon our distinct backgrounds as a lawyer and a social worker in order to offer you a broader spectrum of solutions to the obstacles commonly surfaced during divorce. In a process as emotionally and financially taxing as divorce, our goal is to simplify confusing issues, work creatively through road blocks, and help you plan for a non-adversarial future.
Some Facts About Divorce Mediation:
Throughout the mediation process, you will retain your power to make decisions regarding your financial arrangements and your children's well-being. In a litigated divorce, a judge has the freedom to make these decisions for you. Some further benefits of mediation include:
Following a divorce, adjustment to a new state of normalcy takes at least two years for the adults and children involved. Lengthy fights delay the onset of healing and aggravate the emotional upheaval (Mavis Hetherington & John Kelly, For Better or For Worse, 2002).
For the couple: During the lengthy court process, couples often see the judge in 3-hour blocks every few months. Due to budget cuts and overwhelming caseloads in the family court system, the judge may need to be reacquainted with your case each time you return to court, or you may even find yourself in front of a new judge who is unfamiliar with your case from time to time. Mediation sessions also take place in 3-hour blocks, however the frequency of meetings is determined by the couple.
For the children: Mediated parenting plans focus on stability and healthy communication, addressing important details not generally specified in courtroom-driven judgments.
A mediated divorce process costs an average of 90% less than a litigated process (Boston Law Collaborative,2007).
Private information exchanged in mediation is kept confidential as protected by the California Evidence Code, whereas evidence provided in court proceedings is public record and may be accessed by creditors, employers, and other interested parties.
Temporary and permanent housing arrangements
Temporary and permanent spousal support
Division of assets and debts
Temporary and permanent child support
Detailed and age-specific parenting schedules and plans, addressing such issues as:
Communication regarding ongoing health, education and social issues as children grow
Consistency between households
Parental guidelines for transitions between households
Opportunities to spend holidays, vacations and special days in each household
Flexibility for temporary variations from an established schedule
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Evolving parenting arrangements as family situations change and children grow
Reduce Stress, Minimize Expenses and Prevent Escalating Conflict
Contact us to schedule a complimentary 60-minute meeting, during which we will explain the divorce mediation process and answer your questions about our services. While we recommend that both husband and wife attend this initial session, we may divide the time into two individual 30-minute sessions if this would better meet your needs.
Multiple locations available for your convenience throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, the South Bay & Orange County.
Main Office:
609 Deep Valley Drive, Suite 200
Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274
Phone:
(310) 544-TALK (8255)
E-mail:
Or Click Here to Submit a Confidential Contact Form
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