You’re not just ending a marriage—you’re building the foundation for what comes next. When you choose mediation over courtroom battles, you walk away with agreements that actually work long-term.
Your divorce settlement gets finalized in weeks, not years. You save tens of thousands in legal fees that would otherwise disappear into attorney billable hours and court costs. Most importantly, if you have children, you preserve the co-parenting relationship that will matter for decades to come.
The difference is control. Instead of letting a stranger in a black robe decide your family’s future, you and your spouse craft solutions that fit your actual situation. That’s why mediated agreements have higher compliance rates and fewer future disputes.
We bring over 25 years of family law expertise to Laguna Hills and throughout Orange County. Our founder, Daniel C. Hunter IV, holds board certification in family law—a distinction earned by less than 1% of California attorneys.
We’ve guided thousands of couples through divorce mediation, from simple asset divisions to complex custody arrangements. What sets us apart isn’t just our legal credentials, but our understanding that divorce affects real families in real communities like Laguna Hills, where preserving relationships and moving forward with dignity matters.
Our co-founder, Meri Lopez, brings specialized training from Pepperdine’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, plus a background in trauma response that helps families navigate this transition with less emotional damage.
We start with a free consultation where you’ll understand exactly how mediation works and whether it’s right for your situation. No pressure, just clear information about your options.
If you decide to move forward, we schedule joint sessions where both spouses meet with our mediator in a neutral, private setting. We address each issue systematically—custody arrangements, support calculations, property division—helping you find solutions that work for your family’s unique circumstances.
Throughout the process, you maintain control. We don’t make decisions for you; we facilitate productive conversations that lead to agreements you both can live with. Once you reach consensus, we draft comprehensive legal documents that protect your interests and prevent future conflicts.
The entire process typically takes weeks rather than months, and you’ll have a clear agreement ready for court approval without the emotional and financial toll of litigation.
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Our mediation covers all aspects of your divorce: child custody and visitation schedules, child and spousal support calculations, division of assets and debts, and any modifications to existing orders. We handle everything from straightforward cases to complex situations involving business valuations or retirement accounts.
In Orange County, where the median home value in Laguna Hills exceeds $800,000, property division requires careful attention to California’s community property laws. We work with forensic accountants, appraisers, and other professionals when needed to ensure fair and accurate valuations.
Our flat-fee pricing model means you know your costs upfront—no surprise bills or mounting hourly charges. This transparency is especially valuable in a county where traditional divorce litigation averages $5,000 to $15,000, often reaching much higher for contested cases.
We also provide post-judgment mediation for families who need to modify custody or support orders as circumstances change. Life happens, and we’re here to help you adapt your agreements without returning to court.
Mediation typically costs 30-40% less than traditional litigation. While the average contested divorce in Orange County runs $5,000 to $15,000 in attorney fees alone, our flat-fee mediation structure keeps costs predictable and significantly lower.
In litigation, you’re paying for court preparation time, multiple hearings, document discovery, and all the back-and-forth between opposing attorneys. With mediation, you’re paying for productive sessions focused on reaching agreements. Most couples complete mediation in 3-6 sessions, compared to litigation that can drag on for a year or more.
The real savings go beyond immediate costs. Mediated agreements have fewer post-divorce disputes, which means less money spent on future legal battles over interpretation or enforcement issues.
You don’t need to be friends to mediate successfully—you just need to be willing to have productive conversations about your future. Many couples come to mediation specifically because they want to avoid the adversarial nature of courtroom battles.
We’re trained in conflict resolution and know how to keep discussions focused on problem-solving rather than past grievances. We create structure and ground rules that help even high-conflict couples find common ground, especially when children’s wellbeing is at stake.
However, mediation isn’t appropriate in cases involving domestic violence, substance abuse, or situations where one spouse is hiding assets or refusing to participate in good faith. During your free consultation, we’ll honestly assess whether mediation is viable for your specific situation.
Most couples complete mediation in 6-12 weeks, compared to the 12-18 months typical for litigated divorces in Orange County. The timeline depends on the complexity of your assets, custody arrangements, and how quickly you can schedule sessions.
Simple cases with minimal assets and no children might resolve in 2-3 sessions over a few weeks. More complex situations involving business valuations, multiple properties, or detailed custody schedules might take 4-6 sessions spread over a couple of months.
The key advantage is that you control the pace. Unlike court schedules that depend on judge availability and crowded dockets, mediation sessions are scheduled when convenient for both parties. Once you reach agreements, the paperwork for court approval typically takes another 2-4 weeks.
The agreements you reach in mediation become part of your official divorce judgment once approved by the court. In Orange County, judges routinely approve mediated settlements because they’re typically more detailed and thoughtful than agreements rushed through litigation.
We draft your settlement agreement to meet all California legal requirements and include provisions that prevent common post-divorce disputes. The document covers everything from custody schedules and support calculations to property division and decision-making authority.
After we finalize your agreement, either you or your attorneys file the necessary paperwork with the Orange County Superior Court. The court reviews the agreement to ensure it’s fair and legally sound, then issues your final divorce decree. This process is typically straightforward since you’ve already resolved all disputed issues through mediation.
While not required, many clients choose to consult with independent attorneys during the mediation process for additional legal advice. This is different from traditional litigation where attorneys do the negotiating—in mediation, you make the decisions with professional guidance.
Some couples have their attorneys review the final agreement before signing, which we actually encourage. This provides an extra layer of protection and ensures you fully understand your rights and obligations under the settlement.
We’re trained legal professionals who understand California family law, but we maintain neutrality and can’t give legal advice to either party. If complex legal issues arise during mediation, we’ll recommend you consult with independent counsel to make informed decisions.
Yes, mediated agreements can be modified just like any court order, and we provide post-judgment mediation services for exactly this purpose. Life changes—job loss, relocation, children’s changing needs—and your agreements should be able to adapt.
The advantage of having mediated your original divorce is that you’ve already established a collaborative approach to problem-solving. When modifications are needed, many couples return to mediation rather than filing motions in court, which saves time and money.
California law allows modifications to custody and support orders when there’s been a significant change in circumstances. Through mediation, you can address these changes cooperatively and avoid the adversarial process of court hearings. We help you draft modified agreements that reflect your current situation while maintaining the spirit of your original settlement.
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