Mediation is a private, cooperative process where an independent third person called a "mediator" helps people reach a voluntary agreement that is better than other alternatives available to them.
Mediation is helpful when decisions need to be made but you are:
- Too afraid to discuss issues together
- Too angry to discuss issues together
- Too confused to figure out a fair deal
- Worried about being pressured into court by an attorney
- Hoping to avoid costly, public disputes in court
The kinds of decisions I can help you make are:
- How to divide your property and debts
- Coming up with a plan for how to spend time with your children after you separate (parenting plan).
- Figuring out child support and spousal support (alimony)
- Identifying the tax implications of divorce
As an attorney practicing divorce litigation since December 2007, I have seen first hand that court is not the right place to resolve most family law disputes despite the best efforts of judges and attorneys.
In 2009, I completed the divorce mediation training provided by the Northern California Mediation Center. From 2001-2003, I received training as a pastoral counselor and served as a volunteer chaplain at a nursing home under the supervision of a hospice chaplain.
Each session is 90 minutes. The fee for the initial session is $250 and for later sessions the fee is $225 for one hour, or $337.50 for 90 minutes. Most cases can be resolved in between 3-8 sessions. I offer weekend and evening sessions and can arrange to meet you at my office or at your location, though there may be additional charges.
My goal is to help you reach an agreement called a "Marital Settlement Agreement" that will spell out all of the decisions you have made in the course of mediation and the "boilerplate" language needed to file your agreement with the court.
