With half of all marriages ending in divorce sooner or later you, a friend or family member will be faced with a choice, to litigate or mediate? Most adults have heard the horror stories about divorces that go on for years and cost every cent the couple had leaving nothing but rich attorneys and hard feelings. If children are involved, they get caught in the middle of their parent's war. I should know, I was one of those kids.
When considering divorce people need to make informed decisions. The average divorce in California (when both sides have their own lawyers) is $20,000 EACH. Of course, the more you have, the more it will cost. The scary part is the fact that family law attorneys are the ONLY lawyers in California who have a right by law to put a lien on their client's home to protect their fees. This explains why cases go on for years. The lawyers know they can force a sale of the home to make sure they get paid.
Divorce issues are limited to 3 areas. 1) Support, 2) Custody and 3) Property division. The laws are very clear about what is and isn't community property. Support is calculated by using a mathematical formula. Child issues are best decided by the parents and not some stranger. Honest people who are not trying to hurt each other and just want to be fair are the best candidates for mediation. Drama kings and queens who are more focused on hurting the other one than in protecting their kids and pocket books will make divorce lawyers rich while they battle in court. It is REALLY up to you. The more you can work together and be reasonable, the less you need to involve lawyers!!!
