About The Divorce Help Clinic™
The Divorce Help Clinic™ caters to all-things-divorce. Whether you need direction or divorce mediation, you've come to the right place. Our goal is to help you reach a better position in your post-divorce life.San Diego
What is Divorce Mediation? Divorce Expert
Divorce Mediation is an alternative to litigation (where attorneys fight one another for what their clients want.) Mediation, on the other hand, is an informal meeting with a neutral mediator and the couple working together cooperatively, calmly and fairly.
The mediator guides the couple through a series of step-by-step confidential sessions to resolve issues that might block agreement. The process is quick and efficient.
In mediation, the private issues discussed in session as well as your personal and business finances are kept out of public records. When using attorneys to obtain a divorce, nothing is private. Any "Joe" can access your information at any time.
If you have minor children, a mediator will help you create a co-parenting plan (a.k.a. child custody and visitation schedule) that makes the children’s welfare the top priority.
Document preparation in Mediation: Although our mediators cannot and do not represent you within the mediation (as they work as neutrals), they do hold legal degrees and are therefore able to draft and file all of the necessary documents to initiate and finalize your divorce, including your Marital Settlement Agreement.
Role of Attorney in Mediation: Consulting Attorneys in Mediation: While you do not need to retain an attorney, if you choose to mediate your divorce, it is HIGHLY recommended that you consult with an attorney. At the very least, once the Marital Settlement Agreement is completed (before you sign it), it is best to have an outside attorney review the Agreement from your own personal perspective and give you feedback as to the agreements made.
Same Sex Mediation
Since January 1, 2005, California same sex couples who are registered domestic partners have been granted virtually all of the same rights and advantages that traditional married couples enjoy. What this also means is that if the partnership does not work out—for whatever reason—the couple needs to dissolve their relationship legally.
Privacy: What You Don't Know will Shock You!
Many people don't realize that at the end of a divorce (one using attorneys), everything that came out in the divorce becomes public record--financial statements, debts, accusations of cheating, molestation, addictions. Making matters worse, nothing is private. Anyone can read the sordid details. This is not the case when couples use mediation to divorce as you will read shortly.
While the lack of privacy may not seem like an issue now, down the road it could be. For example, anyone who has romantic interest in you
if there are issues with co-parenting and baseless calls are made to child protective services, your divorce file is surely to be a document that will be reviewed by CPS! Or your future mate may be interested to learn about whom he or she is dating and realize she can grab your divorce file to learn about your behavior with your previous mate. We all know that divorce is a stressful time and a time when you are not on your best behavior, so to keep your private life private - avoid litigation!
At the end of the divorce mediation process, the only document made public is your Marital Settlement Agreement. This document sets forth the final agreements made within mediation--how much support will be paid, co-parenting arrangements, visitation schedules, who gets the pet, and so on. Though still personal, it is minor compared to what is revealed at the conclusion of a litigated divorce. The courts guarantee confidentiality for those using mediation. The goal is to encourage people to agree on their own without clogging the courts with their fighting.
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