If I use divorce mediation, will I have to go to court?
In California, couples who use mediation can obtain a complete, legal divorce without ever having to go to court. In fact, the Judicial Branch of California officially recommends that all couples consider divorce mediation as a way to save money while avoiding the hassle and stress of court appearances.
But using mediation does not mean that a couple cannot go to court. For example, a couple may use mediation to create agreements about property and custody, and then still choose to go before a judge to resolve another issue, such as spousal support. In these cases, the use of mediation to resolve some issues out of court still saves time and money.
For those couples who resolve all issues through mediation, court appearances are unnecessary and the divorce can be finalized in the mail. A trained mediator can draw up all of the necessary paperwork and guide the divorcing parties through the process.
To learn more about the divorce process in California and how mediation can help, please visit our page, “What is Divorce Mediation.”
Gerald A. Maggio is a trained Orange County divorce mediator who has amicably resolved cases many cases out of court, as well as an experienced divorce and family law attorney. Mr. Maggio founded California Divorce Mediators in 2012 with the belief that although “not every marriage can be saved, every family can” and a mission to save families from the financial and emotional distress associated with traditional divorce litigation. California Divorce Mediators is located in Irvine, California, and serves the Orange County area and other counties in California offering divorce mediation, child custody mediation and mediation of other family law matters.
