Providing Divorce Mediation Services Throughout California

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Families First Mediation

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San Diego Divorce Mediation Family lawyer

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

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San Diego Divorce Mediation Services, Family Lawyer San Diego, Legal Separation, or Custody Mediation

What is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation has become a popular alternative to (divorce) litigation, especially in San
Diego. Mediation allows you to divorce without having to go to family court. Mediation in
divorce is a private and confidential process, unlike the court. In court, the proceedings are
public and part of the public records.

Mediators are neutral professionals who help spouses reach a creative solution and fair
settlement. Mediators come from different professional backgrounds. Some are attorneys,
while others are non-attorney mediators. Some mediators are very comfortable with providing calculations, like support calculations, and others are not. Mediators help spouses negotiate and resolve all issues pertaining to their divorce, including child custody, child and spousal support, future support modifications, and debts and property division.

Book a Free Consultation with Online Divorce and Family Mediators

Mediated divorces are more collaborative, cost-effective, and faster than a traditional divorce
for San Diego married couples who want to divorce or part ways. If you are considering mediation, consider Families First Mediation mediators, who have vast experience in San Diego divorce mediation and family law. The great thing about FamiliesFirstMediation mediators? They strive to put you in control of your divorce. They believe that a successful mediated divorce results in a quality long-lasting agreement. They offer a free initial consultation, which they use to get to know you, and your concerns and provide you a plan for your divorce success.

This Blog Discusses mediation, its expected Costs, Benefits, and Common Questions related to Mediation.

Why Mediating a Divorce in San Diego: 5 Benefits for Your Successful Mediation

Mediating your divorce in San Diego puts you in control of your divorce. In San Diego, family law court procedures are long and tedious. One of the best ways to avoid this is to work with a family law attorney-mediator to settle your divorce. The attorney-mediator will not only assist you with all the required court documents but also assist you in negotiating a settlement. Here are 5 great benefits of mediation:

Less Stressful

Getting served with divorce papers is stressful. Imagine having to live your day to day life with court hearings, court papers, deadlines, depositions, discovery, and attorney conferences. It is incredibly stressful. Compare this to mediation. In mediation, you still have to work through your divorce (which is difficult) but the process works around your schedule and needs. You are working towards agreements, which increases the cooperative tone and de-escalates conflict.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Mediation is a private and confidential process, and the record of your mediation sessions doesn’t go public. However, in court, all your testimony will be taken down by the court reporter and available as part of a court record.

Outcome Controlled Process

Not even a mediator, who facilitates both spouses in reaching a consensual agreement controls the process. The couple directly controls the outcome rather than a judge deciding for the spouses. Divorce attorneys and celebrities will mediate their divorces over litigate for this very reason – control and privacy in their divorce. Similarly, most couples want the same and do not want attorneys or judges to dictate what should happen in their family life.

Communication

Communication in mediation is direct. As mentioned, the mediator speaks directly with the parties in joint sessions creating trust. This builds more trust, which leads to settlement (the end goal). In litigation, good communication is limited. Most communication tends to pull parties apart and increase conflict, which increases fees.

Faster and Flexible

Mediation is faster. You are working on your mediator’s private schedule and not an overly crowded public court system. You may finish your divorce in 5-6 sessions. Unlike the court’s structured and formal process, mediation is casual and built around your family and work life

Mediator Spotlight Dina Haddad

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. Dina sits as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Personal Property Arbitration in Santa Clara County and is a family law mediator for the Agency for Dispute Resolution (ADR), a premier provider of private dispute resolution services with a selective panel of neutrals.
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See What Our Clients Say About Us

Lynn
Lynn
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"Dina Haddad and Families First made a difficult process so much easier for us. For families with complex situations, Dina is the perfect choice. She has so many potential solutions at her fingertips and offers good advice while working through the choices. We were grateful to have found her and Families First."
Steven
Steven
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"Very good experience. Dina knows how to get everyone on the same page while keeping both parties on friendly terms. This was a very amicable resolution thanks to Dina. I would highly recommend anyone going through this versus hiring separate attorneys and ending on not so friendly terms. We are still friends and care for the welfare of each other, well worth it!"
John
John
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"We like the way Dina Haddad and Families First Mediation made the well-being of our kids their top priority. They guided us through what could have been a messy process, and looked out for the best interests of both of us. Dina and Deborah were easy to work with, and made our divorce much less stressful than it would have been if we had gone through opposing lawyers."
Veronica
Veronica
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"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 ideas and alternatives that you may not think about with a traditional divorce. She is always fair and good at maintaining rules and boundaries. I would recommend her to anyone that has to go through this grueling process."
Andres
Andres
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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“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... Samira and Deborah are organized, professional, empathetic, knowledgeable, and efficient. They made the process simple and clear, ensuring both parties were satisfied. They answered and addressed all questions and concerns always being neutral. I’ll highly recommend it if you want to avoid the courtroom and save some headaches! Thank you Samira and Deborah!!!!”
Araceli
Araceli
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"I highly recommend Dina and Deborah at Families First Mediation. Dina is awesome she helped guide us from beginning to the end through this very hard and emotional process of Divorce. I loved her compassion towards our needs and looked out for the best interest of our family. This is one of the hardest and complicated things to go through and she made sure we understood everything answering all of our questions. We really appreciate all your help and how smoothly the whole process went Thank-you."
David
David
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"Dina is very knowledgeable both in terms of the divorce laws and accounting. She is a great listener and amazing in finding a solution that works for both parties. She has a very creative mind to resolve conflicts be it about child custody, scheduling or asset division."
Dolores
Dolores
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"Families First really helped make a difficult process seamless and helped us keep our friendship intact. Thanks to Dina and Deborah, we were able to look at everything honestly, openly, and together in a safe and friendly manner. They are wonderful!"
Matt
Matt
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"Dina and Deborah helped us maintain our MSA, even years later, with the same kindness and professionalism as the first time we all worked together. We've both come to trust FFM after both of us would independently check-in with our lawyers. Dina and FFM never failed to give us both fair and reasonable advice and direction."
Sharon
Sharon
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"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. They made a difficult transition seamless, which is not easy to do given the reason people go to see them in the first place. Dina always made sure to be fair to both of us in a gentle, yet poignant way. I wouldn't hesitate to use her services again should the need arise, and would highly recommend her to anyone!"
Carla
Carla
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"While this process can be full of emotion and never easy, Dina showed excellent professionalism and compassion during the entire process. We selected her after speaking with several mediators. She was thoughtful, thorough, and patient in explaining what to expect. Throughout the process, she explained the various pros and cons of each decision, made sure we understood the various details of each point, and was creative in finding alternative ways to reach solutions when necessary. Her suggestions were fair and she never pressured us into a decision until we were ready. I've already recommended her services to several other people and will continue to do so."
Jonathan
Jonathan
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"For anyone out there navigating the legal complexities and emotional fallout of a divorce with children involved, I’d recommend Dina and Families First Mediation without a shred of reservation. She was able to skillfully work with us in acknowledging the emotional ramifications with compassion, while always maintaining a fair-minded and focused approach throughout that kept the process moving. In the end, we arrived at an agreement that was in the best interest of all parties involved, without needing to set foot in a court room or throw thousands of dollars away in litigation. Thank you, Dina!"
Annie
Annie
☆☆☆☆☆
Verified
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"The transition out of marriage has been difficult and emotional. Dina has shown excellent professionalism throughout the process. She has a warm sensitivity that allows both parties to see what is most beneficial for the family unit. I thank her for all her hard work and her quick email responses during this challenging time. Dina comes with quality legal experience and advocates for BOTH sides. Most of all, I am thankful that she has helped our family as a whole work through this. My children and my ex-husband can now move forward and rebuild our lives. Thank you Dina."
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Factors That Influence Mediation Costs

You should consider the following factors in your budget as they may affect your mediation expenses.

• Number of sessions
• Mediator’s fee structure
• Geographical locations
• Case complexities (in Marital and Financial Situations)
• Conflict Level and Spouses’ Willingness to Compromise
• Mediator’s experience, qualifications, and certifications
• Other professionals involvement (not subject to all)
• Attorney’s involvement
• Initial consultation (Get Your Free Consultation)

Services of FFM Mediators for San Diegans

Our Families First Mediation Mediators in San Diego, CA, have helped thousands of couples agree on the specific terms of their divorces. FFM Mediators have saved spouses from costly litigation with customized strategies suited to their family’s needs.

Following are the Services of Families First Mediation Mediators:

Why Mediate My Divorce

Divorce Mediation is proven as the most effective approach for divorce. You stay in control of your divorce case and you make the decisions for you and your family, not a judge or lawyer. You also save money, paying for one impartial professional rather than multiple professionals with differing goals. Also, mediation takes far less time than any of the other available options.

Learn About Divorce Mediation

We believe anyone can successfully mediate their divorce or legal separation. In fact, statistics show children do much better when parents mediate. We provide a customized process that allows couples to move quickly and successfully through their divorce process. We provide the legal knowledge you need to make the right decisions for you and your family. We take the complexity of divorce and make it simple.

Benefits Of Mediating

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?

Schedule Free Video Consultation
Call Us: 408-357-3486
Best California Divorce Mediator
Best California Divorce Mediator

Looking For Experienced Divorce Mediator?

Schedule Free Video Consultation
Call Us: 408-357-3486

F.A.Q

Virtual Sessions

Our mediation sessions are virtual. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, we offered virtual sessions and relied heavily on technology to offer the best services to our clients and keep their costs down. We rely on secure methods to share documents, online calendaring, electronic payment options and other useful integrations. Unlike other divorce practices, you won’t find charges on your invoice for us to file or print your documents to paper.

You can find a reputable divorce mediator in California by doing these steps:

  • • Search on Google or browse through online legal directories
  • • Reach out to family attorneys in Los Angeles and ask for referrals.
  • • Read and review the testimonials of mediators once you find them.

The mediator can understand your case (suitability of mediation to you) and divorce issues in a free video consultation. Additionally, they can communicate their strategies to resolve your disputes, their role as a neutral facilitator, and the risks associated with your divorce. You can also learn about their fee model in an initial discussion. In short, you can use the free video consultation for maximum benefit without spending money.

  • • Gather a basic understanding of the mediation process
  • • Familiarize yourself with your mediation concern to a mediator and know about different solutions.
  • • Evaluate the mediator regarding his communication, problem-solving skills, and suitability to your scenario.
  • • Use this strategy and get at the win-and-win situation before investing in mediation

The number of sessions required in your mediation for simple divorce or complex cases can vary. The more complications there are, the more sessions will be required. Likewise, the couple’s willingness to compromise, complexity, information gathering (process), expert consultations, and mediator experience may also influence the number of sessions. Our Families First Mediations couples average 5–6 sessions. Here is a breakdown of the expected number of sessions based on the case types.

  • • Simple cases: 3–5 sessions
  • • Mid-size cases: 4–8 sessions
  • • Highly complex Cases: 8–12+

The following are the pros and cons of mediation in divorce.
Pros

  • • Confidential
  • • Time effective
  • • Post-divorce stability
  • • Voluntary, informal and flexible
  • • More control over the outcome
  • • Collaborative and peaceful nature
  • • Inexpensive process(both parties can collectively pay the fees of a mediator)

Cons

  • • Can’t work for high conflict cases
  • • Does not work for uncooperative couples
  • • Lacks legal advocacy (mediator just mediates and doesn’t advocate for parties, unless the parties retain consulting attorneys)
  • • Doesn’t work for couples with power imbalance (unless the mediator is able to neutralize)

Families First Mediation

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Location

Providing services throughout California

Call Us:

(408) 357-3486

Our Email:

[email protected]

Hours of Services

Monday to FRIDAY - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

  • Divorce in Marin
  • Divorce in Mariposa
  • Divorce in Mendocino
  • Divorce in Merced
  • Divorce in Modoc
  • Divorce in Mono
  • Divorce in Monterey
  • Divorce in Napa
  • Divorce in Nevada
  • Divorce in Orange

About Us:

Families First Mediation is a pioneer in the field of divorce mediation. Our entire divorce mediation team takes great pride in being active trainers, divorce mediators and teachers of mediation in the greater California area. If you are considering a collaborative divorce, legal seperation or looking for a san jose divorce lawyer we have services that may be beneficial to you. Take advantage of our vast expertise and background in the field of divorce mediation and our genuine desire to help with your divorce mediation services.

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