Guides
September 22, 2025
Yes, you can use a certified mediator even after court proceedings begin or attorneys are involved in your case.
Share:
After couples have filed for divorce—even if they’ve hired lawyers—they can turn to mediation as their case proceeds. This flexibility makes mediation particularly valuable in Orange County, where divorce rates are significantly higher than the national average.
The key is understanding that mediation isn’t a replacement for your legal representation, it’s a tool that collaborates with it. Your attorneys can still provide legal advice and protect your interests while an attorney mediator helps facilitate productive conversations between you and the other party.
Court proceedings often create an adversarial atmosphere that makes resolution more difficult. Mediation changes this dynamic by creating a neutral space where both parties can focus on finding solutions rather than winning battles.
Your attorneys don’t disappear when you choose mediation, they become even more valuable as strategic advisors. In a mediation session, either party may consult an outside attorney, counselor, or financial planner of their choice at any time throughout the process. This means you maintain all your legal protection while gaining the benefits of collaborative problem-solving.
Think of it this way: your lawyer knows the law and protects your rights, while the mediator knows how to help people communicate and find common ground. Together, they create a powerful combination that often leads to better outcomes than litigation alone.
Many Orange County attorneys recommend mediation to their clients, especially when they see cases getting bogged down in expensive discovery processes or when emotions are running high. For instance, one spouse might become open to mediation only after the “discovery” process (when spouses may require one another to provide information and documents) has revealed a full picture of the couple’s finances, including any hidden assets.
The beauty of this approach is that you’re not starting from nothing. All the legal work your attorneys have already done—document gathering, financial analysis, legal research—becomes valuable preparation for mediation. Nothing is wasted, and you often reach resolution much faster because the groundwork is already laid.
As anyone who’s been divorced can tell you, disputes with an ex don’t necessarily end once the divorce is final—particularly when you’re co-parenting kids. Post-divorce mediation can help you work out disagreements when one of you wants to change something in the settlement agreement or final dissolution judgments such as your parenting arrangement or the amount of child or spousal support.
This is where attorney mediators in Orange County, CA prove especially valuable. Life changes—job loss, relocation, children’s evolving needs, health issues—and your legal agreements may need to change with them. Rather than heading back to court every time an issue arises, mediation offers a more efficient path forward.
Post-judgment mediation becomes necessary when legal disputes arise after a court ruling. At Level Dispute Resolution, we provide a confidential setting for conflict resolution, working towards fair outcomes for all parties involved. The process is particularly effective because both parties have already experienced the court system and often prefer a more collaborative approach.
Consider a common scenario: divorced parents need to modify their custody schedule because one parent received a job promotion requiring relocation. Instead of filing motions and waiting months for a court date, they can collaborate with an attorney mediator to create a new arrangement that serves everyone’s interests, especially the children. The mediator helps them explore creative solutions that a judge might never consider, such as extended summer visits, virtual visitation during the school year, or shared transportation costs.
The advantages of mediation become even more pronounced when you’ve already experienced the traditional court system. You understand the stress, expense, and uncertainty of litigation, making mediation’s benefits crystal clear.
A mediated settlement can save parties critical time, expense, and effort. Another benefit is that parties get to present their view of the case and events, without the traditional constraints of the trial process. They often vent, clear the air, and educate opponents as to case strengths and weaknesses, renewing settlement discussions in the process.
Most importantly, you regain control over the outcome. Instead of leaving crucial decisions about your family’s future in the hands of a judge who barely knows your situation, you, and the other party work together to create solutions that fit your unique circumstances.
The financial benefits of switching to mediation after court proceedings begin can be substantial. Most divorce cases brought before a judge can take anywhere from 12-18 months to finalize, whereas mediated divorces can be final in as little as three months. Even if you’re not starting from the beginning, mediation typically resolves issues much faster than continued litigation.
In Orange County, where if a couple chooses to litigate it can take up to 19 months and they can spend roughly $15,000 to $30,000 to get divorced according to Forbes magazine, the cost savings become even more significant. In our experience, by using an attorney mediator in California, parties can obtain a final dissolution judgment in as little as 6 months – depending upon the backlog at the court at a cost of $2,000 to $5,000 total.
But the savings go beyond money. There’s the emotional cost of prolonged litigation—the stress, uncertainty, and the impact on your children and family relationships. This process can be particularly helpful and beneficial for families when resolving emotional and familial conflict, as it can decrease the negative effects that divorce may have on children and other family members. By engaging in mediation, divorcing couples can communicate openly and work together to find a solution that best serves their family’s needs, leading to a healthier post-divorce dynamic.
Consider the practical advantages: no more waiting months for court dates, no more preparation for depositions, no more wondering what a judge will decide. Instead, you schedule mediation sessions at your convenience, work at your own pace, and maintain privacy throughout the process. Unlike most court cases, which are matters of public record, most mediations are confidential.
One of the most compelling reasons to choose mediation after court proceedings is its impact on ongoing relationships. Success mediation can salvage an ongoing business relationship between parties who would like to get beyond the present dispute and resume business relations. This principle applies especially to families who need to maintain cooperative relationships for years to come.
For a continuing relationship: Neighbors, divorcing parents, supervisors and their employees, business partners, and family members must continue to deal with each other cooperatively. Going to court can divide people and increase hostility. Mediation looks to the future. It helps end the problem, not the relationship.
In Orange County’s tight-knit communities, this relationship preservation becomes even more important. You might encounter your ex-spouse at school events, community activities, or through mutual friends. The adversarial nature of court proceedings can create lasting animosity that affects not just you and your former spouse, but your children, extended family, and social circles.
We understand family dynamics and help parties communicate in ways that build rather than destroy future cooperation. Mediation permits the parties to maintain a cooperative working relationship which will serve them and their children long after the divorce is over. The minimization of conflict is of paramount importance to many couples that choose mediation. This is particularly crucial when children are involved, as they benefit tremendously from seeing their parents work together respectfully.
You don’t have to remain trapped in endless litigation just because you’ve already started down that path. Attorney mediators can step in at any stage of your legal proceedings to help you find a better way forward—one that saves money, preserves relationships, and gives you control over the outcome.
The key is working with experienced professionals who understand both the legal system and the mediation process. Whether you’re dealing with unresolved divorce issues, custody modifications, or other ongoing disputes, mediation offers a proven path to resolution that works alongside your existing legal representation.
If you’re ready to explore how mediation can help resolve your ongoing legal matters, Level Dispute Resolution offers the expertise and compassionate guidance you need to move forward with confidence.
Article details:
Share:
Continue learning:
Company
