The Purpose Of Divorce Mediation Orange County

By Charles Price


Many couples hire attorneys and prepare to go through a lengthy court battle when they decide to end their marriages. They assume there is no other way to get through the legal process without spending a lot of money on an attorney or battling it out before a judge in the family law court. However, with divorce mediation Orange County couples might actually find the process a lot less expensive and contentious. You can decide if it is right for you by learning what it is and what is involved with it.

One of the main reasons couples use this option instead of hiring lawyers is because they actually get along with each other and do not want a contentious legal battle. They may even agree on how their assets should be divided and settled, which eliminates the need for attorneys to get involved. They do not want to drag out their case in court and possibly risk the outcome upon which they both agree.

They also may have a straight forward case that does not involve any minor children. Ending a marriage when you have children to consider can be more challenging and complicated. The state will demand you and your spouse decide upon matters like custody and support. These issues, even when you get along with your wife or husband, can make the case more contentious in nature.

Further, a mediator often lacks the legal authority to settle issues like who gets custody of the kids and who must pay child support. A family court judge has to decide these matters and issue a formal decree on them. Without the formal decree, any arrangements decided on by you and the other party are not legally binding.

However, a mediator can help with issues like spousal support and what amounts the rightful party is entitled to after the case ends. This arrangement typically goes better when both parties can agree on the entitlement and sum. Once the agreement is settled upon, it will be taken before a judge who will sign off on it and issue the final decree.

When you file your case, you might have to wait to have a mediator assigned to you. They are only available on a limited basis and can only handle so many cases at a time. However, once assigned to you, he or she will remain involved in the situation until you and the other person reach an agreement you can both live with for the remainder of your lives. This agreement may be reached through a series of meetings.

By law, you are entitled to hire a lawyer at any time. However, you may not choose to do so because of the expense involved. Many attorneys charge hundreds of dollars per hour for their services. When you are trying to get through the situation on a budget and without spending too much, you may instead prefer to hire a mediator rather than an attorney.

Mediation can help a divorce go through the legal system faster and easier. It saves you time and money from having to hire a lawyer. You also may end up getting the results you want as long as you do not have minor children to take into consideration during the proceedings.




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