Orange County Divorce Mediation Attorney

25+ Years of Experience in LA County, San Bernardino, Orange, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, and Santa Barbara

Kevin B. Gibbs has more than 25 years of professional legal experience working with clients facing divorce in Southern California. More specifically, Attorney Gibbs has guided clients through the mediation process in the face of divorce, and he has even written his own mediation guidebook for clients addressing important post-divorce matters. If you are facing divorce and seek to negotiate a settlement personally with your spouse, consider pursuing divorce mediation with Attorney Gibbs’ guidance.

Schedule a consultation with Kevin B. Gibbs online or by phone at (714) 710-8834 for more information.

What Is Divorce Mediation?

There are a number of different methods couples can pursue to resolve their divorce issues. One such approach is mediation, where an impartial third-party person (the mediator) helps spouses reach an agreement they can both accept. Mediation can be court-ordered, or couples can seek to pursue mediation on their own.

Divorce mediation typically consist of several joint meetings between spouses that last several hours each. During those meetings, the parties will discuss the issues that need to be resolved in the case before heading to court if necessary. Keep in mind that in mediation sessions, only the spouses involved in the dispute have decision-making power unlike arbitration or trial, where the arbitrator or judge can make the final decision.

While mediation may not be able to resolve every single issue on the table, it can at least resolve some issues so that the couple can concentrate on the few unresolved matters in court before a judge. It is also common that mediation can help individuals prepare better for trial in the case that they do not reach any agreement in the negotiation room and must pursue trial.

The Role of the Mediator

The third-party mediator helps spouses talk through their issues in a way that may make it easier for the couple to settle the dispute without the court’s interference. At the conclusion of mediation, the mediator will help the couple draft their agreement to the court for finalization.

As mentioned above, mediators do not make any decisions for the spouses, and agreements can only be settled if the spouses themselves agree. The mediator’s primary role is to facilitate discussion, assist with communication, and provide information and suggestions during negotiation. Mediators are often specially trained and have a legal background; some mediators are also divorce lawyers.

Benefits of Mediation

Mediation can work for divorcing couples who seek to attempt discussion without the court’s intervention. Both cooperating couples and even families with high-conflict divorces can benefit from divorce mediation, as litigation often results in acrimony and conflict, while mediation creates an environment for more thorough and personal discussion. Mediation aims to reduce tension, not increase it.

With the help of a trained mediator, couples can negotiate their own settlement and learn the techniques for resolving future differences. As a result, mediation is for couples who want to retain control over the decisions that affect their lives.

Seek Legal Support in Your Mediation Today

If you are facing divorce in Orange, California, you may want to consider divorce mediation to resolve your disputes with your spouse. Mediation can facilitate a more personal and open discussion between separating partners with a trained mediator in the room to ensure that the discussion stays on track and does not create conflict. Couples who wish to retain the most decision-making power in their divorce instead of defaulting to a trial decision will benefit from attempting mediation. Attorney Kevin B. Gibbs is an experienced divorce mediation attorney who knows the ins and outs of the mediation process in Southern California and can guide you through the mediation process from start to finish.

Schedule an appointment with Kevin B. Gibbs online or by phone at (714) 710-8834 to learn more.