The Purpose Of Divorce Mediation Orange County

By Charles Price


Making the decision to end your marital union is something that you probably did not take lightly. You probably weighed all of the pros and cons of the situation and decided you would be better off alone than married. After reaching that decision, you then start the process of taking on all of the legalities involved with formally ending your union. By opting for divorce mediation Orange County petitioners like you can save time and money and get the resolution you want or need.

A mediator is not an attorney but rather a delegate of the court. He or she meets individually with petitioners on a case by case basis and helps both parties reach peaceful solutions to their particular situations. They most often are assigned to cases for which both parties would prefer not to hire expensive lawyers. They work to expedite the case through the court system and help both people reach a viable resolution.

These court representatives are available for couples who have relatively straightforward divorces and do not have to face issues like deciding who gets the kids or who is entitled to child or spousal support. In fact, couples who do not have children and few assets to split up often benefit the most by this type of legal service. They can get through the situation without a lot of contention.

Mediators typically cannot by law determine who gets the kids or who is entitled to child support. The family court and a family court judge has to be the one to issue a formal decree on this type of case. The lack of a decree means that any agreement reached during the mediator meeting is not necessarily legally binding and does not have to be observed by either party.

A mediator can, however, settle issues like spousal support in many states. As long as both parties agree that one is entitled to support, they can have the mediator determine the amount and for how long it must be paid. The arrangement will be formalized by the judge who will sign off on the work that a mediator undertakes on behalf of the court.

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.

Of course, you can hire an attorney to represent you during the meeting. Still, many couples who do not have kids or a lot of assets choose not to because of their pricing involved. Lawyers also tend to take more time to work out cases. The only time you might hire an attorney is if the situation becomes hostile or you reach an impasse with the other spouse.

Using mediation can help you get through your divorce case faster and without spending a lot of money. The resolutions reached in the meetings are legally binding. It often works the best for couples who do not have children or a lot of assets to divide up among themselves.




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