Affordable Divorce Mediation in Los Angeles, CA

Divorce is stressful enough. Work with top divorce mediators and family law experts Dina & Samira to take control of your case in Los Angeles, CA, offering one of the most comprehensive and affordable divorce mediation services in California.

5 Star Reviews from Clients

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Years of Family Law Experience

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Less Costly Than Litigation

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Successful Mediations Completed

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Los Angeles Divorces Are Overwhelming. But not When Expert Mediation Puts the Families First

Divorce can be time-consuming and expensive in Los Angeles County, the nation’s largest county. Given the high demand for family law mediation and the large population, court times can be excessive and emotionally draining.

Many parties end up paying for their family law attorneys to drive back and forth to court in traffic — paying billable hours for time, not results. Further, family court is public, often exposing private matters.

The Los Angeles landscape demands more privacy, affordability, and control. Fortunately, these challenges can be resolved through private divorce mediation. This process allows couples to resolve disputes efficiently, confidentially, and with less cost compared to traditional divorce litigation.

At Families First Mediation, Dina Haddad (the principal mediator) and her team offer confidential remote divorce mediation services for Los Angeles and all of California couples. Each of our mediators has 20+ years of family law and mediation experience. Our team includes financial mediators, paralegals, and divorce coaches who specialize in resolving complex family matters. Book your free Consult with Los Angeles Divorce Experts, today.

How Does the Divorce in Los Angeles Look Like?

Consider navigating through chaotic LA traffic for a 15-minute court session. Here, contested divorces are messy, costly and take away your time. The most common courthouse for Los Angeles is located at the somewhat notorious 111 N. Hill Street. If you are contemplating whether to litigate or mediate, I highly encourage you to attend a family law court hearing at Hill Street. I guarantee you will have strong opinions after that experience. Getting into downtown is incredibly difficult, parking is expensive, the courthouse is massive and open to the public.

If you have been living in Los Angeles for the last 3 months, Los Angeles County is the county in which you must file. There are local courthouses in Los Angeles that you can also file in, which is beneficial if you do not plan to litigate. However, you will want to know which judges are at which local courts given the selection is more limited for complex divorce cases. These local courts are:

And more… The best option is to avoid a public court hearing or a litigated divorce. If you are contemplating a divorce or in the midst of it, consider whether mediation can be a viable option for you. In mediation, an attorney divorce mediator will work with you and your spouse directly providing you the private and professional space to resolve your divorce matters. This includes resolving complex asset division, parenting, and child and spousal support. Additionally, the mediator will assist you in creating agreements that are fully enforceable and modifiable when life changes, such as the loss of employment. This is particularly useful for the Los Angeles community that is heavily impacted by the gig economy. Many in Los Angeles have fluctuating income whether they work for media, tech or tourism.

How to Do a Los Angeles Uncontested Divorce Confidently without an Expensive Litigation and Lawyer?

Family law attorneys that are divorcing will opt for mediation before heading into litigation. You, too, should highly consider the option to avoid expensive litigation when approaching your divorce. The options for an uncontested divorce include:

Private settlement discussions between parties.
Settlement agreements between parties and their attorneys.
Settlements reached between the parties with the assistance of their divorce mediator.
Settlements reached between the parties and their attorneys, with the assistance of their divorce mediator.

When parties are unable to resolve their issues between them, the next step is to retain a professional. This could still be with each party hiring a divorce attorney. However, a far more cost-effective method would be retaining a divorce mediator. Unlike the risk that attorneys end up requiring court-actions, the divorce mediator will not file for hearings, keeping the matter amicable and reasonable.

A divorce mediator is a neutral party who facilitates negotiations between you and your spouse regarding property, support, and custody issues. The mediator does not have a preferred route for the parties, but guides them on their options, provides solutions, and the risks and benefits of each. Once the issues are resolved, the mediator will prepare a Marital Settlement Agreement for the parties, which is a legally binding contract.

This agreement is filed with the Family Court in Los Angeles, where the judge will in turn review the agreement and incorporate it into the final divorce judgment. Learn more about the Divorce Mediation Process in California.

How We Help Couples in Family Law Matters?

Our mediation team of professional divorce mediators and family law experts at Families First Mediation will guide Los Angeles families through a collaborative, conflict-free process.

The goal is to reach permanent solutions for their critical needs, including but not limited to, property distribution, spousal support, and children’s custody and support, in a private and supportive platform. At Families First Mediation, we offer assistance in:

Divorce Mediation

We facilitate respectful negotiations to reach a comprehensive settlement, saving you the cost of divorce and aggravation of Los Angeles Family Court.

Legal Separation

For those not ready for a divorce, we assist in drafting a formal separation agreement outlining all the terms of separation for clarity in law.

Spousal Support

We will assist you in negotiating a reasonable spousal support arrangement based on your marital history, your current standard of living, and both spouses’ income. Learn how to avoid spousal support in California.

Family Law Settlement Conference

As a neutral party, we will help you mediate and facilitate communication in an effort to resolve issues that are holding up your case. Learn about private and mandatory settlement conferences.

High Net Worth Divorce Mediation

We will handle the division of complex assets such as stock options, businesses, and/or real estate with a strong emphasis on confidentiality and financial efficiency in the greater Los Angeles area.

Child Support Modification

We can help you legally modify your child support order if you experience a significant change in your income or lifestyle.

Child Support

We guide you through California guidelines for determining a fair child support amount to meet the financial needs of your children. Learn more about New Child Support Laws.

Child Custody

We help provide a thorough, child-centered parenting plan specifying custody, visitation and a child-centered schedule which serve your children’s best interests.

Marital Agreements

We draft clear, legally binding prenuptial agreements and/or post-nuptial agreements to protect your assets and define your financial obligations and entitlements.

Dina Haddad, Esq.

Principal & Founder Attorney-Mediator

Meet The Team

Meet Trusted Divorce Mediation Experts

At Families First Mediation, our team of four professionals brings 60 years of combined family law and mediation experience. Our collaborative team includes attorney-mediators, a financial mediator, and a divorce paralegal, all dedicated to providing affordable divorce mediation in Los Angeles and throughout California.

Samira Amato, Esq.

Of Counsel Divorce Mediator

Deborah Yamashiro

Divorce Paralegal

Katherine Pearson

Divorce Paralegal & Case Manager

Our 4 Steps Divorce Mediation Process For Los Angeles Couple, California?

1.

Book a Free Consultation

Start your mediation by booking a free video consultation with our divorce mediator, Dina Haddad.

2.

Mediate An Agreement

In this step, you meet the attorney-mediator and your spouse in a working session. Our divorce mediator guides you and your spouse to understand California family laws and explore options (property division, parenting, and child custody) for a fair settlement plan.

3.

Complete Disclosures

In the third step, our mediator assists divorcing couples in completing the necessary financial disclosures required for a Los Angeles Superior Court

4.

Let's Submit Your MSA with the Court for Final Divorce Judgment

Our mediators will draft and finalize a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA). Then, mediators present it to both you and your spouse. Once you both sign the MSA, we will submit it to the court for a final divorce decree. That’s It. Got Questions? Let’s Chat.

a Lawyer for Your Divorce in LA?

Our mediation team of professional divorce mediators and family law experts at Families First Mediation will guide Los Angeles families through a collaborative, conflict-free process.

Looking For An Experienced Divorce Mediator?

Dina Haddad, Esq.

Principal & Founder Attorney-Mediator

Dina Haddad is the founder and principal of Families First Mediation, one of California’s top-rated mediation services.

See What Our Client Say About Us

Explore client stories and reflections on how we’ve made divorce in California simple and stress-free through our mediation process.

"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......"

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

"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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How is divorce mediation beneficial in Los Angeles cases?

Mediation is beneficial in Los Angeles cases because it is a huge time and cost-saver compared to litigation in the courts of Los Angeles. You have control over the results of the mediation process, reducing conflict. It also allows for flexibility regarding scheduling, so you can avoid the trauma of going to court.

Q2. Can mediation be used at any stage, even after litigation has started?

Yes, medication can be used at any stage of the divorce process. It can be done any time, even after a litigation case has been filed in the court. Mediation can provide settlement so that the litigation process can cease immediately.

Q3.Are mediation services available through Los Angeles County’s Family Court Services?

Los Angeles courts can recommend mediation to help with child custody, however they have limitations and usually the mediation is ordered by a judge. However, private mediation provides much more freedom, privacy, and a broader scope of support in regard to your divorce issues.

Q4.What happens if we cannot reach an agreement during mediation?

If you cannot reach an agreement through mediation, you will have the opportunity to pursue legal action. Any settlements or partial settlements that were reached prior to reaching an impasse may be incorporated into your legal proceedings which can save you both time and money.

Q5.Can mediation be conducted virtually/online in Los Angeles?

Yes, online divorce mediation is both valid and effective. With it, you can easily and privately solve your case from any location and avoid traffic in LA.

Q6. How long will it take to finalize an uncontested divorce in Los Angeles?

Divorce mediations and subsequent agreements are typically concluded within 4-8 mediated sessions; however, the total time for the entire process is subject to California’s six (6) month waiting requirement.

Q7. Do either of us have to appear in court for an uncontested divorce in LA County?

No, neither party is required to appear in court for an uncontested divorce in LA. The court should be able to approve your divorce based on the paperwork that you have submitted as part of a successful uncontested divorce mediation. Therefore, neither spouse will be required to make an appearance in court.

Affordable Divorce Mediation in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Divorces Are Overwhelming. But not When Expert Mediation Puts the Families First

How Does the Divorce in Los Angeles Look Like?

How to Do a Los Angeles Uncontested Divorce Confidently without an Expensive Litigation and Lawyer?

How We Help Couples in Family Law Matters?

Marital Agreements

Dina Haddad, Esq.

Meet Trusted Divorce Mediation Experts

Samira Amato, Esq.

Of Counsel Divorce Mediator

Deborah Yamashiro

Divorce Paralegal

Katherine Pearson

Divorce Paralegal & Case Manager

Our 4 Steps Divorce Mediation Process For Los Angeles Couple, California?

1.

Book a Free Consultation

2.

Mediate An Agreement

3.

Complete Disclosures

4.

Let's Submit Your MSA with the Court for Final Divorce Judgment

a Lawyer for Your Divorce in LA?

Looking For An Experienced Divorce Mediator?

Dina Haddad, Esq.

See What Our Client Say About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Hours of Services