Mediation

Mediation is a process that lets you be in charge of your outcome.

Our mediation program is led by Ashley Schuh, a Harvard-trained, certified mediator, who will focus on your specific needs and will work with you to develop a plan that is tailored to you and your family. We approach the mediation process with the firm belief that you are more suited to make decisions for your family than the court. We believe that empowering you to work through conflict, evaluate your interests and generate options will help you arrive at a resolution that meets your needs and can create a platform for improved communication in the future.

Mediation is a voluntary, non-binding, confidential process that can help two parties resolve their dispute without the need for court assistance. It can provide streamlined resolution, create the opportunity for improved communication and allow for creative solutions. While the court is bound by the laws of California, in a mediative process, you can decide what is best for you and your family by designing an agreement that is tailored to your lives and unique situation. Just because you choose to mediate your dispute does not mean you can’t have an advocate.

While the mediator does not represent either party’s interests in mediation, sessions can be conducted with the parties alone or with your attorneys present. Even if you choose to come to mediation without an attorney, you are encouraged to have counsel to consult with as part of the process. We believe that part of reaching a productive resolution is having a completed understanding of your risks and opportunities outside of mediation so you can fully evaluate your options for resolution.

If you decide to use mediation services at Levine Family Law Group, we will meet once to discuss our process, develop a mediation plan that works for you and talk about our next steps for moving forward. Depending on the nature of your dispute and where you are in your process, we will determine what information should be provided to the mediator and what assistance the Levine Family Law Group can offer to help bring your matter to final resolution. We are committed to providing services that fit your needs.

IS MEDIATION RIGHT FOR YOU?

Mediation is a cooperative process that is right for couples who have the same goal – to reach a resolution. That doesn’t mean you agree (yet) about every issue and it sure doesn’t mean that mediation is an easy or unemotional process. It doesn’t even mean that you like each other anymore. But it does mean that you both believe there is a better way to divorce than fighting in court and letting a judge decide about your life.

You might think Mediation isn’t for you because you and your ex have a hard time being in the same room. Or you don’t see eye-to-eye about who is going to keep the house. Or maybe you feel hurt and emotional because your spouse wanted a divorce and you didn’t. Having the professional advice and assistance of a neutral Mediator can help you navigate the emotions, find common ground, search for value added resolution and maybe bring you back some peace of mind.

Whether you are just getting started with your divorce or other family matter and want help preparing your documents and navigating negotiations – or you have already initiated your divorce, our Mediate can help guide you to resolution.

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Read our recent blog posts about mediation.

• 6 Steps to Take Before You Begin Divorce Mediation - Thinking about divorce mediation? Excellent idea if you and your spouse have the shared goal of uncoupling amicably (or at least are committed to working together to dissolve your marriage in a fair and cooperative way) but have too many issues to resolve them on your own. Working with a good mediator has its perks — most notably you can cut down on attorney fees and costs, go at your own pace, keep the intimate details of your life a lot ...
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• Child Custody Recommending Counseling and Mediation: What’s the Difference? - In a case involving children where the parties have not agreed on a parenting plan, the Family Law Court mandates that parents “mediate” prior to a hearing on the matter. Mediators have experience in counseling or psychotherapy and must have a master’s degree in a behavioral science related to marriage and family interpersonal relationships. Parents required to attend mediation include those who are involved in legal actions concerning parentage, divorce (with children), domestic partnership dissolution (with children) and domestic violence ...
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• Choosing the Right Legal Help for Your Divorce - I have been a practicing family law attorney for over a decade at Levine Family Law Group and now Hello Divorce. A couple weeks ago a client came in for a second opinion. He had hired a lawyer 6 weeks ago and wasn’t even sure if he had filed a petition to divorce, and couldn’t get a straight answer from anyone in his attorney’s office about the status of her case. Honestly, nothing frustrates me more than lawyers who don’t ...
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