Collaborative Divorce & Mediation in San Diego
What’s A Collaborative Divorce In California?
A collaborative law case is made up of four-way meetings in which the parties and their lawyers work together to resolve your divorce, property division, custody and support, and other related concerns, outside of the courtroom. Each attorney still represents his or her own client and their interests.
However, both attorneys focus on the big picture of helping you resolve your divorce in an open and respectful manner in a neutral setting, striving for fairness.
In keeping with the principles of cooperation necessary to collaborative law, we’ll work with you to invent solutions and negotiate fairly in order to reach a mutually agreed upon settlement.
What Does a Mediation Attorney Do?
- Negotiations. Don’t get steamrolled, play on a level field with the right strategy
- Settlements. We’ll make sure it’s clear, enforceable, not vague and fully complete
We don’t just handle divorce—we strategically manage complex financial transitions for high-net-worth individuals. If your case involves millions in assets, business ownership, executive compensation, or real estate portfolios, the stakes are too high for anything less than elite legal strategy.
Generally speaking, all property that you and your spouse acquire during the marriage while “domiciled” (residing for most purposes) in California is community property. This means that all earnings, assets, and debts during a marriage are subject to equal division between the spouses upon divorce.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is collaborative divorce?Collaborative divorce is a process in which both spouses and their attorneys work together in four-way meetings to resolve divorce-related issues outside of court. Each spouse still has their own attorney, but the process is designed to focus on open, respectful problem-solving and settlement.
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How is collaborative divorce different from mediation?In collaborative divorce, each party has their own attorney actively participating in the process, and the case is built around joint meetings aimed at reaching a negotiated resolution. In mediation, the mediator acts as a neutral third party and does not represent either spouse or make decisions for them.
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What does a mediator do in a divorce case?A mediator facilitates discussion and helps the spouses work toward a mutual resolution of divorce-related issues. The mediator can provide legal information, but does not represent either spouse, does not give either party legal advice, and does not make the decisions for them.
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Is divorce mediation confidential?Yes. The page describes divorce mediation as a confidential process that takes place outside of court.
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Do I still need my own attorney if I go to mediation?Often, yes. The page explains that parties are often encouraged to have their own attorneys because the mediator does not represent either spouse and does not provide legal advice.
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