You’ll spend less time in conflict and more time moving forward. Most couples finish mediation in six months. Litigation drags on for up to 19 months, sometimes longer.
The cost difference is massive. With flat fee pricing, you know exactly what you’re paying upfront—no surprise bills, no hourly rates that climb while you wait on hold. You’re looking at saving $20,000 or more compared to taking your divorce to court.
But it’s not just about money. You maintain control over property division, spousal support, and custody arrangements. A judge who hears your case for maybe an hour doesn’t make those decisions for you. You do. And when children are involved, that control matters even more because you’re creating agreements that actually fit your family instead of accepting a one-size-fits-all court order.
The agreements you reach are legally binding. They carry the same weight as any court judgment. You’re not sacrificing legal protection by choosing mediation—you’re just choosing a smarter path to get there.
We bring over 45 years of combined family law experience to Buena Park and Orange County. Daniel C. Hunter IV is a board-certified family law specialist—a distinction held by less than one percent of attorneys in California. Meri Lopez is certified through Pepperdine’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution and licensed in four states.
That litigation background matters. Most mediators have never stepped into a courtroom. We have. We know exactly what happens when mediation fails and a case goes to trial. We’ve seen the costs balloon, the timelines extend, and the emotional damage compound. That experience helps you avoid those outcomes.
We’re both parents. We understand what’s at stake when families go through transitions. Buena Park families come to us because they want their divorce handled with expertise and respect, not because they want the cheapest option. They want legally binding agreements that hold up and protect their interests long-term.
You start with a free consultation. We’ll talk about your situation, answer your questions, and determine if mediation makes sense for your divorce. Not every case is a fit, and we’ll tell you that upfront.
If you move forward, we schedule mediation sessions. Most couples need two to three sessions to reach full agreement on property division, spousal support, child custody, and support arrangements. Each session is confidential—nothing discussed in mediation becomes public record like court filings do.
During sessions, we facilitate the conversation. We don’t take sides. Our job is to help you both communicate clearly, identify what matters most, and work toward solutions that are fair and sustainable. You’re not giving up your right to legal advice—many clients consult with attorneys between sessions, and we encourage that.
Once you reach agreement, we draft the settlement documents. These become legally binding once filed with the court. You’ll have enforceable orders that cover everything from asset division to custody schedules. And if circumstances change later—job loss, relocation, changes in income—we handle post-judgment modifications too.
The entire process typically takes six months in California, including the mandatory waiting period. Compare that to litigation, which averages 12-19 months and often longer when disputes escalate.
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Our flat fee pricing covers everything you need to complete your divorce. That includes all mediation sessions, document preparation, and filing assistance. No hourly billing. No surprise charges for phone calls or emails.
You get help with property division—that means real estate, retirement accounts, bank accounts, debts, and personal property. In Orange County, where median home values in Buena Park exceed $700,000, getting property division right matters. We help you understand California’s community property laws and how they apply to your specific assets.
Spousal support is part of the conversation too. California uses specific factors to determine support amounts and duration. We walk through those factors with you so both parties understand what’s reasonable based on income, length of marriage, and standard of living.
Child custody and support arrangements get the attention they deserve. We help you create parenting plans that work for your schedules and prioritize your children’s stability. California uses a statewide formula for child support calculations, and we make sure those numbers are accurate and fair.
Post-judgment modifications are available when life changes. If you need to modify custody, support, or other orders down the road, we handle that too. Many Buena Park families return to us years after their divorce because they know we understand their history and can facilitate changes efficiently.
Divorce mediation in Orange County typically costs between $3,000 and $7,000 total for both parties. That’s the complete cost to finish your divorce, not a per-person fee.
Compare that to litigation, where each spouse pays $15,000-$30,000 on average, sometimes significantly more if the case involves complex assets or extended custody disputes. High-conflict divorces with contentious negotiations can push litigation costs above $50,000 per person.
Our flat fee pricing eliminates the uncertainty of hourly billing. You know the cost upfront. There’s no meter running while you wait for callbacks or while we review documents. That predictability matters when you’re already dealing with the financial stress of splitting households and managing new expenses.
Yes. Once your mediated settlement agreement is filed with the court and approved by a judge, it becomes a legally binding court order. It carries the same legal weight as any judgment issued after a trial.
That means the terms are enforceable. If your ex-spouse violates the custody schedule, doesn’t pay support, or fails to follow property division terms, you have legal recourse. The court can enforce the agreement just like any other order.
The difference is how you got there. Instead of a judge making decisions after hearing your case for an hour or two, you and your spouse created the terms together with professional guidance. The result is an agreement that reflects your actual priorities and circumstances, not a generic court ruling. But the legal protection is identical.
Most couples complete mediation in six months, which is California’s minimum waiting period from the date you file until your divorce is final. Some finish the actual mediation sessions in just a few weeks, then wait out the mandatory six-month period.
Litigation takes much longer. The average litigated divorce in California takes 12-19 months. Complex cases involving business valuations, hidden assets, or contested custody can stretch beyond two years.
The timeline depends partly on you. If you and your spouse can communicate reasonably well and want to move forward, mediation moves quickly. Most couples need two to three sessions to reach agreement on all issues—property division, support, custody, and asset distribution. Each session typically lasts two to three hours. You’re looking at 6-9 hours of actual mediation time for most divorces, spread across a few weeks.
Mediation has a 70-80% success rate for reaching full agreement. That’s high, but it’s not guaranteed. If you reach impasse on certain issues, you have options.
You can agree on what you can and litigate only the disputed issues. That’s called partial mediation. You’ll still save significant time and money compared to litigating everything. Many couples mediate property division and support but need a judge to decide custody, or vice versa.
You can also pause mediation, consult with attorneys separately, and return to the table. Sometimes parties just need more information or time to process. Taking a break doesn’t mean mediation failed—it means you’re being thoughtful about major decisions.
If mediation truly doesn’t work, you haven’t lost anything except the mediation fee. You can still file for divorce and proceed through the court system. But most couples who come to mediation genuinely want to avoid court, and that shared motivation usually leads to agreement even when the issues are complicated.
Yes. Mediation works for high-asset divorces and complex financial situations. In fact, it often works better than litigation for these cases because you have more time and privacy to work through the details.
Orange County has plenty of couples with real estate holdings, business interests, stock options, retirement accounts, and other assets that require careful valuation and division. Mediation gives you the space to bring in financial experts, review documents thoroughly, and craft creative solutions that a judge might not order.
For example, maybe you want to keep the Buena Park house but offset that by giving your spouse a larger share of retirement accounts. Or maybe you’re dividing a business and need a structured buyout over several years. Mediation accommodates those arrangements. Court trials don’t.
You should still consult with a financial advisor or attorney who understands California community property law. Many of our clients do exactly that—they work with us in mediation and consult their own advisors between sessions. That combination of collaborative mediation and independent legal advice produces strong, fair agreements that protect both parties.
No, you don’t have to hire separate attorneys to use mediation. Many couples complete their divorce through mediation without ever retaining individual lawyers. That’s part of what makes mediation affordable.
That said, consulting with an attorney is smart, especially before you sign final agreements. California law is specific about property division, support calculations, and custody factors. An attorney can review the proposed settlement and make sure you understand what you’re agreeing to and whether it’s fair under state law.
Some couples hire attorneys on a limited-scope basis—sometimes called “unbundled services.” The attorney reviews documents, answers questions, and provides advice, but doesn’t take over the case or appear in court. That middle ground gives you legal protection without the cost of full representation.
As mediators, we can’t give you legal advice. We explain the law, we help you understand your options, and we facilitate negotiations. But we don’t advocate for either party. If you want someone in your corner reviewing everything from your individual perspective, hire an attorney for that. Mediation and legal consultation work well together.
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