Divorce Mediation Alameda | Affordable & Confidential Services

Divorce is stressful enough. Work with top divorce mediators Dina & Samira to take control of your case in Alameda, Ca offering the most comprehensive divorce mediation services.

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What is Divorce Mediation in Alameda?

Divorce mediation in Alameda is a conflict or dispute resolution process for couples who want a productive and fair divorce. Mediation has a collaborative nature, allowing both the divorcing spouses to control the final outcome per their divorce goals, rights, and interests. Divorce mediation involves qualified mediators who remain neutral and impartial to help couples reach a consensual settlement.

Spouses discuss important terms of divorce, which derive the outcome rather than a court or judge deciding for you. This is the most common option (under collaborative divorce) because of its non-adversarial nature, cost-effectiveness, and faster speed than a litigated divorce. Also, domestic partners who want to separate their ways can pursue divorce mediation.

Benefits of Divorce Mediation in Alameda, CA

The following are the ways that make mediation advantageous to divorcing spouses.

Cost-effective and Time-Saving Process

Both spouses save much money and time through mediation compared to the high costs involved in traditional divorces. Divorce costs through litigations are around $30,000 – $100,000+ in Alameda, which is a financial strain for both parties. However, economic costs through divorce mediation may range around $3500 – $15,000, proving it a more cost-effective strategy than a lawyer-driven divorce.

A successful completion of your mediation process in California may take around two to three months. In it, you don’t have to wait like the one in the court process. Moreover, the courts remain busy and getting a court date might take up to a year. Then, how many years will it take to end your marriage through litigation? What if your case has complex issues like child custody, marital assets division, and alimony? If you have read between the lines, then add more years in divorce through lengthy court hearings. Or pick mediation, get your divorce and issues done through coordination and save yourself from financial, emotional, and time.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Do you know that court hearings are part of the public record and that court is a public forum? But what about mediation? Are sessions in it also recorded and go public?

No, mediation is a private and highly confidential process because the information discussed and the agreement reached are not disclosed. Neither mediation is a part of the public domain. Moreover, there are many laws concerning mediation, confidentiality, privilege, and enforcement of agreements in Alameda.

The mediator may ask both spouses to sign a confidential agreement before mediation. The purpose of a confidential agreement is that both parties and the mediator commit to keep the discussion and dialogue confidential

Customized Solution and Flexibility (Scheduling)

Another added advantage of a mediated divorce is that it offers customized solutions and flexibility to the parties tailored to their goals and specific family needs. Mediators listen to couples and ensure solutions are well aligned to the particular family.

While in the courtroom, you may feel less personal, and you have to obey the court’s procedures and schedules in divorce litigation. On the other hand, mediation offers flexible scheduling, and both spouses can decide on the scheduled meeting at their convenience.

Post–Divorce Stability

Mediation is a collaborative process. Mediated agreements have been proven to have more follow-through, requiring fewer modifications in the future. This saves the parties more money and time.

With contested divorces, parties may be upset and angry with one another after suffering through a litigated divorce battle. With mediation, parties have a higher satisfaction rate. This allows them the opportunity to work better as co-parents in the future.

Children First Approach

Divorce is difficult for children. Many children suffer from anxiety not knowing what is going to happen to their family. They may not know where they will be living, where the family home is going to be sold, or if they will have to change schools. Given litigation can take several years for the divorce to be finalized, litigation can impact children negatively. Fortunately, children are resilient.

If you’re contemplating divorce or in a divorce, and you have children, consider the benefits of mediation. In mediation, the divorce mediator equips you to successfully manage difficult conversations with the other parent. And, in doing so, they are able to resolve the custody issues faster.

Mediation allows the family to move forward with their agreements sooner. Children are able to maintain their routines, or have a better understanding of what the new routines will look like. In fact, if the parents mediate, it’s likely that they will share this information with the children together.

LEARN ALL ABOUT MEDIATORS

Meet Your Future Mediation Team

Dina Haddad, Esq.

Principal & Founder Attorney-Mediator

Dina is the founder and principal of Families First Mediation. Her mission is make A-class services available to clients at all socio-economic levels by providing her commitment to excellence at a fraction of the cost of traditional divorce options.

She has practiced family law in both Southern and Northern California, at some of the most prestigious law firms. She completed post-doctorate law degree in mediation, a Masters in Law in Alternate Dispute Resolution from the premier Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. For more than 9 consecutive years, Straus was ranked the number one dispute resolution program by U.S. News and World Report. Straus received this honor again for 2018. Very few mediators, particularly in family law, have this unique training.

Phone Number:

(408) 357-3486

Email:

[email protected]

Samira Amato, Esq.

Divorce Attorney-Mediator

Deborah Yamashiro

Senior Paralegal

Elizabeth Stephens

Financial Mediator

Katherine Pearson

Case Manager & Paralegal

Families First Mediation Process

1

Start A Divorce

We will prepare and file the Petition and Response for the divorce or legal separation for you. These papers start your divorce case.

2

Mediate An Agreement

You will meet with the attorney-mediator and your spouse in working sessions. On average, parties need 6 sessions. The attorney-mediator will help you understand the law and provide you options for property division, parenting and child and spousal support. Using that information, the attorney-mediator will guide you to an agreement. We are looking for results that you understand and work for you, each other, and your family - both today and for your future.

3

Complete Disclosures

For every divorce and legal separation, you must exchange and complete financial disclosures. We will guide you through them so they are exchanged and done correctly

4

Divorce Judgment

We will put your agreements together in a final agreement, known as an MSA. We submit this to court to become your divorce judgment.

Looking For An Experienced Divorce Mediator?

Looking For Experienced Divorce Mediator?

See What Our Clients Say About Us

"I heard so many great feedbacks about Families First Mediation so I was eager to sign up to overcome my fears about going through my divorce...."

"Dina and her team are amazing. They guided us through this most difficult time in our lives with ease and proficiency...."

"Working with Families First Mediation Group was such a positive and reassuring experience. From the very first conversation...."

"Samira and FFM guided us through our divorce while navigating a fairly complex (non-standard) living and parenting plan...."

"Families First Mediation recently helped my ex and I navigate the dissolution of our marriage....."

"Dina is not only incredibly knowledgeable—she is so much more than just a mediator. She is a rare and special person who brings light to your path...."

"Dina Haddad and Families First made a difficult process so much easier for us. For families with complex situations, Dina is the perfect choice..."

"Very good experience. Dina knows how to get everyone on the same page while keeping both parties on friendly terms..........."

"We like the way Dina Haddad and Families First Mediation made the well-being of our kids their top priority. They guided us through......."

"As much as you can love going through mediation and divorce, Dina H. is the one to help you come to a positive outcome. She has good......"

“Divorce is never something you plan for and the complexity and legality of it is something most couples don’t know, understand or inquire about..."

"I highly recommend Dina and Deborah at Families First Mediation. Dina is awesome she helped guide us from beginning to the end through...."

"Dina is very knowledgeable both in terms of the divorce laws and accounting. She is a great listener and amazing in finding a solution...."

"Families First really helped make a difficult process seamless and helped us keep our friendship intact. Thanks to Dina and Deborah, we were able ...."

"Dina and Deborah helped us maintain our MSA, even years later, with the same kindness and professionalism as the first time we all..."

"I highly recommend Families First Mediation if you and your spouse are thinking about going separate ways. Dina and team are friendly, easy to work with, thorough, and responsive....."

"While this process can be full of emotion and never easy, Dina showed excellent professionalism and compassion during ....."

"For anyone out there navigating the legal complexities and emotional fallout of a divorce with children involved, I’d recommend Dina...."

"The transition out of marriage has been difficult and emotional. Dina has shown excellent professionalism throughout the process......"

"Dina and the team at Families First Mediation were not only highly professional, but they were also very personal and extremely helpful throughout the entire process..."

I am truly grateful for the support we received from Dina and her team. They were responsive and patient throughout the mediation/divorce process, as we navigated uncharted, uncomfortable territory.