Glendale Divorce Mediation Lawyer
Glendale Divorce Mediation Attorney
While no one ever enters into a marriage thinking it might fail, there can come a time when a marriage is at its endpoint. When that happens, it is time to decide how to dissolve the partnership and divide assets. While some go through lengthy court battles, others seek clear, simple communication and a swifter process. Hiring a Glendale divorce mediation lawyer can shorten divorce proceedings and lower financial and emotional stress.
About the Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon
Patricia Rigdon is a Certified Family Law Specialist with advanced training in divorce mediation. Our team concentrates on helping clients resolve their conflicts without the intervention of the courts. Choosing mediation can save financial resources for the family instead of wasting them on unnecessary legal costs.
Benefits of Divorce Mediation in Glendale
Getting divorced in California can take at least six months due to the required waiting period under Family Code § 2339. Mediation can significantly speed up the process so that you don’t spend more than the waiting period waiting for the divorce to be final. The more contested a divorce is, the more time it may take and the more money the proceedings may cost. It is not uncommon for a litigated divorce to take a year or more to finalize.
Divorce mediation can offer significant advantages over lengthy litigation, including:
- Lower costs: Divorce mediation is considered much less expensive than traditional litigation and can often save you thousands in unnecessary legal fees. Costs are also usually divided equally between spouses.
- Reduced conflict: Mediation is held in an informal place with a neutral party to help both sides come to a mutually beneficial agreement. It allows both parties to bring their ideas to the table and have control over making those difficult decisions.
- More open communication: Mediation is designed to make sure everyone feels heard and is an active part of the divorce agreement.
- Control and flexibility: Mediation sessions are scheduled at your convenience rather than having to schedule with the court. A Glendale divorce mediation attorney works with clients to decide outcomes, rather than the parties having to accept a judge’s decision.
- Good post-divorce relationship: Mediation can help set a tone of respect and consideration between spouses. Having agency in the decision-making often leads to better compliance with divorce agreements.
What Can Be Decided in Divorce Mediation?
Dissolving a marriage often involves complex decisions that can significantly impact spouses and their families. During the mediation process, parties can come to an agreement on the following matters:
- How to divide marital assets and debts
- Child and spousal support amounts
- Child custody and visitation
Although couples can make these decisions together, the final agreement must still be approved by the court. A family court judge will assess the legal validity of the agreement and ensure all of the terms are fair to both parties and any decisions related to children are in the best interests of the children.
Hire a Divorce Mediation Lawyer in Glendale
While the divorce rate in California is on the decline, there can still come a time when you find your union is no longer sustainable. A knowledgeable family lawyer can offer guidance, legal advice, and help craft an agreement that benefits both parties and their needs.
The Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon have helped hundreds of couples stay out of court and find amicable solutions to the dissolution of their marriage. With over 20 years of experience, she can ensure the terms of your divorce are fair and legally enforceable. She has extensive experience helping spouses with the details of divorce mediation cases, including:
- Helping you set priorities
- Understanding your post-divorce financial needs
- Agreeing to co-parenting terms if children are involved
- Discovering any non-negotiables in the process
When you hire a Glendale divorce lawyer from our firm, we are ready to help you and your spouse create an amicable environment in which to discuss your divorce details.
FAQs About Glendale, CA Divorce Mediation Law
How Much Does Divorce Mediation Cost in Glendale?
Divorce mediation in Glendale can vary in cost based on the case complexity, the level of conflict, and document preparation. However, the cost is often significantly lower than litigation. If you’d like to avoid the high costs of court proceedings with your divorce, don’t hesitate to contact us to begin the mediation process.
What Is the Downside to Divorce Mediation?
The downsides of divorce mediation can be its cost or the lack of an individual advocate. While mediation is more costly than do-it-yourself divorce, it can save you from making errors and misunderstanding complex court rules and procedures. Mediation may not be for couples with a large power imbalance or one spouse who is unwilling to communicate. It is a process that requires both parties to be willing to negotiate openly with each other.
Do Both Sides Have to Pay for Mediation in California?
Mediation is often paid for by both sides in California. While it is usually a 50/50 split between spouses, parties can agree to another type of split based on factors of their choosing. Because mediation leaves decisions up to the couple, the actual breakdown of costs can be part of the divorce agreement. If you’d like to save time and money while retaining more control over the final divorce terms, meditation may be the right choice for you.
What Happens if Divorce Mediation Doesn’t Work?
If divorce mediation doesn’t work for you and your spouse, you still have the option to pursue litigation at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, where a judge will decide issues you can’t agree on. If you reach any partial agreements during mediation, they can still be used to help reduce the remaining issues and possibly future legal costs.
Contact the Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon
Divorce mediation cases can be complicated and emotional. The team at the Law Offices of Patricia Rigdon practices entirely in the area of family law and has extensive experience tailoring divorce agreements for our clients using mediation. If mediation is right for your divorce, reach out to our legal team today to schedule a consultation.
Serving Glendale and the Greater Los Angeles Area
When your family faces the challenges of divorce, custody disputes, or other family law matters in Glendale or throughout the Greater Los Angeles area, you need an attorney who understands that preserving your family’s financial resources and emotional well-being is just as important as achieving favorable legal outcomes. Patricia A. Rigdon, Esq., CFLS, practices exclusively in family law and has dedicated her career to finding creative solutions that resolve conflicts without unnecessary court battles—allowing families to invest their resources in rebuilding their lives rather than funding endless litigation.
Based in Southern California and serving Glendale and surrounding communities, Patricia brings both Certified Family Law Specialist credentials and a comprehensive approach to family conflict resolution. Whether through skilled negotiation, mediation, collaborative family law, or vigorous courtroom advocacy when necessary, she tailors her strategy to each client’s unique circumstances and goals. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: exhaust every reasonable avenue for resolution before resorting to costly court intervention, but when talking no longer works and alternative dispute resolution isn’t appropriate, she becomes a fierce advocate ready to be your voice before the judge.
Whether you’re navigating a high-net-worth divorce involving complex asset division, fighting for custody of your children, seeking modification of existing orders, protecting your interests through a prenuptial agreement, or addressing any family law matter in Glendale, partnering with a Certified Family Law Specialist who prioritizes keeping your precious financial resources within your family while still being fully prepared to litigate aggressively when necessary can be the difference between draining your savings on attorney fees and achieving efficient, lasting resolutions that serve your family’s best interests.
Glendale, CA Divorce Mediation Law Additional Resources
Stay informed about California family law with these helpful articles from our blog:
- What is Minors’ Counsel & Why Did the Court Assign One to My Case? – Understanding the role of court-appointed attorneys for children in contested custody cases and what their involvement means for your family
- Interstate Custody Lawyer Cost California – What to expect when hiring an attorney for complex custody matters involving multiple states and jurisdictional issues
- High Net Worth Divorce California – Key considerations and challenges unique to divorces involving substantial assets, business interests, and complex financial portfolios
- What is the New Child Support Law California? – Recent changes to California child support regulations and how they may affect your current or future support obligations
- How to Modify Your Child Support & Custody Agreements – Step-by-step guidance on when and how to seek modifications of existing family court orders when circumstances change
Glendale Practice Areas
DO YOU NEED LEGAL HELP?
The mediation process provides a more peaceful alternative to fighting about your personal issues in court. Read more to see if divorce mediation is right for you.
Collaboration brings attorneys, mental health professionals & accountants together to resolve family issues without going to court. Read more to see if a Collaborative Divorce is right for you.
Litigation in the divorce process involves submitting issues to family court in order to resolve them with the assistance of a judge, if both parties cannot reach an agreement in other ways. Read more to see if Divorce Litigation will be needed.