Best Divorce Lawyers in San Mateo, CA

Some clients may initially worry that because a mediator is a man or a woman, he or she may exhibit biased towards a particular sex. In my experience, this is almost never the case. Mediators are fanatical about maintaining impartiality, which is a critical part of the mediation process. Remember, a mediator's job is to help you reach a fair settlement, not to pass judgment.

In my opinion, no. Some co-mediators work very well together, and using two professionals to help you frame issues and resolve conflict can be very effective. However, a skilled solo mediator can help you reach a fair settlement just as effectively, often at a much lower cost.

The cost of mediation depends mostly on the complexity of the issue being considered, as well as the willingness of both parties to work toward a fair settlement. A typical divorce mediation (from initial meeting to filing of the marital separation agreement) in the San Francisco Bay Area might cost between $4,000 and $8,000.

Absolutely. If you and your spouse have already resolved the issues surrounding your divorce and you feel comfortable navigating the court process with a self-help book or two, you can certainly do it yourself. However, if (1) you'd like the help of a professional in reaching settlement on certain issues, (2) you want the security of knowing that an experienced party has helped shape your agreement, and (3) you'd like someone to guide you through the divorce process, mediation might be a good choice.

In almost all instances, the answer is an emphatic "no." If you hire an aggressive divorce attorney, your spouse will be compelled to do the same. Your legal bill will grow astronomically as your attorneys battle their way through discovery, take depositions, and hire an army of experts. The financial pie that you and your spouse are fighting over will dwindle, and you will likely end up feeling that you never exerted any control over the process. If you have children, you may subject them to extreme stress as you fight it out with your spouse. Divorce is hard enough. Don't make it harder by trying to "crush" your spouse. You'll end up battering yourself to pieces in the process.