• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

George Richardson

Palo Alto Divorce Attorney & Mediator

Call Us Today
650-250-0204
650-250-0204
  • About George
  • Family Law
    • A Team Approach
    • Family Law / Divorce: How to Proceed
    • Premarital and Post Marital Agreements
    • Consulting Counsel
    • Cooperative Agreements
  • Collaborative Divorce
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • A Team Approach
  • Mediation
    • Mediation: Advocate for Yourself
    • Mediation Explained
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Mediation Explained / Mediation: Advocate for Yourself

Mediation: Advocate for Yourself

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a voluntary process in which you resolve your differences in face-to-face discussions facilitated by a neutral, trained professional. If you and your spouse are ending your marriage, you can work together with a mediator in order to gather the appropriate records and information, identify questions, create answers, and draft a complete agreement addressing those questions.

Is Mediation Right for You?

Mediation with a trained family lawyer has many advantages. The mediator can help you understand the legal issues and guide you through the settlement process. Questions about allocating parenting responsibilities, income, expenses, property, and the costs of the process can be handled effectively in mediation. The mediator provides an organized framework for settlement discussions, answers many questions as they arise, and can offer various options to consider. Meeting with both of you at the same time promotes reaching better solutions more quickly than in an adversarial setting. You, rather than the court system, set the pace for reaching agreement. You work directly together to create mutually acceptable agreements. At the same time you may learn problem-solving skills that can assist in resolving future differences, particularly with respect to sharing responsibility for your children, without professional assistance.

Is Mediation Wrong for You?

Mediation is not for everyone. If you have experienced emotional or physical abuse, you will probably be better served by another process, such as collaboration or adversarial litigation. If you wish to avoid court and litigation, but do not fully trust your spouse to disclose information, or feel that you may be inclined to give in to much of what the other requests, perhaps out of guilt, fear, or the hope of reconciliation, Collaborative Divorce may be a better choice for you. Collaboration may also be a better choice if you believe that there is a significant power imbalance between you or that one of you is emotionally less prepared to engage in open and frank discussions.

What about Consulting Lawyers?

People mediating their differences are best served if each retains a consulting lawyer to offer legal advice or individual assistance. In mediation, you generally discuss the law as it relates to the issues to be covered in a settlement. As a neutral, a mediator cannot give legal advice or separate counsel to either spouse. Typically, you decide when to consult with your lawyer. As you reach agreements or after you reach an overall settlement, you should review them with your consulting lawyer to ensure that you understand the legal significance of the agreement and that it accurately expresses your understanding.

Primary Sidebar

Law & Mediation Office of  George B. Richardson
Meeting by appointment only

Contact Us 650-250-0204

"*" indicates required fields

Name*

From the Blog

family in discussion

Welcome to Our New Blog

Our Family Law Blog is Here! George Richardson has practiced Family Law for over 30 years and is committed to non-adversarial resolution of family disputes through collaborative, mediative, and … [Read More...]

Footer

George B. Richardson

Law & Mediation Office of George B. Richardson
Meeting by appointment only
Mailing Address:
2225 East Bayshore Road, Suite 200
Palo Alto, CA 94303-3220
Office: 650-250-0204
email George Richardson

Do Not Use Footer 2

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
California Divorce Attorneys, Mental Health Professionals, Financial Planners
Superb Rated AttorneyBoard Certified by the California Board of Legal Specialization
AV rated by Martindale Hubbell

Copyright © 2023 - All Rights Reserved

· · ·

Web Design by The Crouch Group · Log in

  • About George
  • Family Law
    ▼
    • A Team Approach
    • Family Law / Divorce: How to Proceed
    • Premarital and Post Marital Agreements
    • Consulting Counsel
    • Cooperative Agreements
  • Collaborative Divorce
    ▼
    • Collaborative Divorce
    • A Team Approach
  • Mediation
    ▼
    • Mediation: Advocate for Yourself
    • Mediation Explained
  • Blog
  • Contact Us