Successful Divorce Mediation in Sunnyvale, CA | Free Consultation

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

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What is Divorce Mediation in Sunnyvale County?

Divorce mediation in Sunnyvale 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 Sunnyvale, CA

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

Impartiality

Find a mediator that keeps the playing field level for both spouses. Your mediator must make the mediation space safe for both parties. For you to be able to settle, you both need to feel heard, validated and understood. Neutrality is non-negotiable.

Empathy and Compassion

Divorce is an emotional process, and empathetic mediators can understand the emotions of both parties to handle complex and emotional situations. Look for a compassionate mediator who can better care for your emotions.

Affordability

Compared to litigation and traditional divorce options, mediation is affordable. However, look for a mediator that provides a structured and well-organized mediation process. Mediators often charge hourly. If the mediator is not organized, or also litigates, the mediator may not have his/her full attention on your matter. This will cost you more in the long run, even if that mediator’s hourly is less than another professional. Family law and divorce are not easy and family issues can be complicated. This in itself requires time, which results in costs. But still looking for a mediator that can give you a general idea of the costs to mediate and are transparent regarding their fees.

Experienced and Knowledgeable Mediator

Take time to find a mediator who is well-versed in the issues that you and your spouse believe are relevant to your case. A good divorce mediator must have strong experience and knowledge of California family law and divorce procedures. Only well-trained and knowledgeable attorney mediators know how different laws and legal frameworks apply to you, your circumstances, and your spouse. For example, at Families First Mediation, we specialize in complicated assets such as retirement plans and pensions, employee benefits like RSUs, PSUs, and stock options, real property (including deferring the sale of the family home,) creative rights and ownership, and patents and copyrights.

Troubleshooting Skills

The best mediators use problem-solving skills to foster productive communication between the parties to reach creative solutions that benefit both. A mediator with problem-solving skills moves the mediation forward and is more likely to end in a final settlement. Our ‘Families First Mediation’ Mediators, with their extraordinary problem-solving skills, have helped thousands of couples settle in just 4–6 sessions. Our Marital Settlement Agreements are detailed – which benefits the parties and limits the amount of future modifications and enforcement issues. We find the details create more long-lasting settlements.

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.

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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.

How much does divorce mediation cost in Sunnyvale, California?

Divorce mediation costs in Sunnyvale, California, may vary depending upon many factors. For example, how many sessions your mediation may involve, the complexity of the issues involved, and the experience of mediators.

Of course, mediators with high experience and reputations charge more than the less experienced mediators. While the complexities in your case, such as child custody and property division, may also affect mediation costs. Likewise, mediated divorce may involve additional expenses such as filing fees, document preparation and financial advisor costs.

Also, some mediators charge on an hourly basis ($359– $700 per hour). While others may ask you to pay a flat fee for mediation services. So, you can begin your divorce mediation in Sunnyvale after you know the mediators’ experience, qualifications, and fees. Following are examples of flat fees in the divorce mediation process.

● Low-cost Mediation: $3,500 – $5,000

● Standard Mediation: $5,000 – $15,000

● Complex Mediation: Starts from above $15,000

How many sessions are needed for divorce mediation?

The number of sessions required in your mediation process may depend upon the complexity of issues, emotional factors, legal complexities, information gathering, and experience of the mediator. Typically, our couples average 6 sessions.

How can I have a successful divorce mediation? Any tips?

Mediation is a dispute resolution method to reach an agreement between divorcing spouses. If both spouses disagree on specific terms in mediation, they must go through traditional litigation in family court.

Traditional litigation can have high costs, extended time (in court battles), and increased conflicts. Therefore, individuals dealing with divorce can follow these tips. The following are tips for individuals wanting a successful divorce mediation in Sunnyvale, California.

Take breaks when needed
Decide your interests and priorities
Come prepared and listen actively
Choose an experienced and qualified mediator
Try to compromise and reach a mutual agreement
Gather important information (about assets, debts, and possessions)
Stay honest and indulge in open communication during negotiations
Keep personal emotions aside and stay calm during divorce negotiations

How many mediation sessions are needed to complete my divorce in Sunnyvale?

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+

What are the pros and cons of divorce mediation?

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)

Are mediation and collaborative divorce the same thing?

No, mediation and collaborative divorce are entirely different approaches to divorcing. Both are processes to divorce in California, without stepping into court, yet these options differ in the process, (number of) professionals involved, and costs.

• In mediation, both parties have one mediator, while in a collaborative divorce, each party retains his/her attorney.
• In mediation, you work directly with the mediator. In collaborative practice, you work in a team approach. The number of professionals in the team varies, but can include a mental health professional and financial expert.
• Mediation is generally cheaper than collaborative divorce because collaborative typically requires a team which is more costly based on the number of professionals. Additionally, teams tend to move slower (costing more) than a more streamlined service like mediation.
• A mediator in mediation stays neutral. The mediator neither advocates in the court nor for the parties. They just mediate for both divorcing parties. In collaborative divorce, each party’s attorney advocates for its party.