You’ll have a legally binding agreement that actually works for your family. Your kids won’t watch their parents destroy each other in court. Your bank account won’t be drained by endless attorney fees and court costs.
Instead of spending months or years fighting over details a judge will decide in minutes, you’ll control every aspect of your settlement. You’ll preserve relationships that matter, especially when children are involved. Most couples save $10,000 or more compared to traditional litigation while finishing their divorce in a fraction of the time.
The stress that comes with uncertainty disappears when you know exactly what your future looks like. No more wondering what a judge might decide about your custody arrangement or how your assets will be divided.
Level Dispute Resolution brings over 25 years of family law expertise to Olive residents facing divorce. We are led by Daniel C. Hunter IV, a board-certified family law specialist—a distinction held by less than one percent of California attorneys.
Our team understands the unique challenges Orange County families face, from complex property valuations in a volatile housing market to the emotional toll of high-conflict situations. We’ve helped thousands of couples navigate divorce with dignity while preserving important relationships.
Unlike many mediation services run by non-attorneys, Level Dispute Resolution combines legal expertise with genuine compassion. Every agreement is crafted to last, preventing future disputes that cost time and money.
Your process starts with a free consultation where we assess your situation and explain your options. No pressure, no sales pitch—just honest guidance about whether mediation fits your circumstances.
If you move forward, we’ll schedule your first mediation session. Both spouses meet with a neutral mediator in a private, comfortable setting. The mediator facilitates discussions about custody, support, and property division while ensuring both voices are heard.
Most couples complete their mediation in just a few sessions over several weeks. Once you reach agreements, we prepare all necessary legal documents and file them with the court. You’ll have a final judgment without ever setting foot in a courtroom.
The entire process typically takes 3-6 months from start to finish, compared to 12-18 months for traditional litigation.
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Your mediation covers all aspects of divorce: child custody and visitation schedules, child and spousal support calculations, and division of assets and debts. We handle everything from simple cases to complex situations involving businesses, multiple properties, or high-conflict dynamics.
Orange County’s expensive housing market makes property division particularly challenging. Homes that appreciated significantly during marriage create complex valuation issues. Our mediators understand local market conditions and work with trusted appraisers and financial experts when needed.
We also provide post-judgment mediation services. Life changes after divorce—job loss, relocation, remarriage—and your agreements may need updates. Rather than returning to court, mediation offers a faster, cheaper way to modify custody or support arrangements.
Each case includes transparent, flat-fee pricing with no hidden costs or hourly billing surprises.
Mediation typically costs $3,000-$7,000 total for both spouses combined, while traditional litigation can run $15,000-$30,000 per person. That’s not just attorney fees—court costs, depositions, expert witnesses, and endless document preparation add up quickly in litigation.
Our flat-fee pricing means you know exactly what you’ll pay upfront. Most couples save $10,000 or more by choosing mediation over court battles. You’re also splitting the cost of one mediator instead of each hiring separate attorneys at $300-$600 per hour.
The financial savings alone make mediation worth considering, but the emotional and time savings are often even more valuable to families going through divorce.
Most couples complete mediation in 6-12 weeks with 3-5 sessions. California requires a 6-month waiting period from when you file, but your mediation and agreement can be finished well before that deadline.
Compare that to traditional litigation, which often takes 12-18 months or longer. Court schedules, attorney availability, and the discovery process create delays that mediation avoids entirely.
You control the timeline in mediation. If you’re motivated to reach agreements quickly, we can often accommodate faster scheduling. If you need more time to work through complex issues, we’ll take the time necessary to get it right.
Partial agreements are common and still valuable. Even if mediation resolves 80% of your issues, you’ve saved significant time and money on the remaining 20% that might need court intervention.
Many couples start mediation thinking they disagree on everything, only to discover they agree on most issues once they start talking productively. Our mediators are skilled at finding common ground and creative solutions that work for both parties.
If mediation doesn’t work for your situation, you haven’t lost anything. The process is confidential, so nothing discussed can be used against either party if you end up in court. You’ll also have a clearer understanding of the real issues that need resolution.
Mediation requires both parties to participate voluntarily and communicate safely. If there’s ongoing domestic violence, threats, or significant power imbalances, traditional litigation with separate attorneys may be more appropriate.
However, many situations that seem high-conflict can still benefit from mediation with proper safeguards. We can arrange separate meeting rooms, staggered arrival times, or even conduct sessions virtually to ensure both parties feel safe and heard.
During your free consultation, we’ll assess whether mediation is suitable for your specific circumstances. Your safety and ability to advocate for yourself are our primary concerns. If mediation isn’t right, we’ll help you understand your other options.
The mediator remains neutral and cannot provide legal advice to either party. Many couples choose to have consulting attorneys review their mediated agreement before signing, which is smart and relatively inexpensive.
Some people hire attorneys for limited consultation during the mediation process—reviewing documents, explaining legal rights, or providing guidance on specific issues. This “unbundled” legal service costs far less than full representation.
Our mediators are experienced attorneys who understand family law, but we can’t advocate for either side. We’ll ensure both parties understand the legal implications of their decisions and that agreements comply with California law, but independent legal advice is always your choice.
We’re led by a board-certified family law specialist with over 25 years of experience—a credential held by less than 1% of California attorneys. Our team combines deep legal knowledge with specialized mediation training from top institutions like Pepperdine’s Straus Institute.
Many mediators are retired judges or attorneys without specific family law expertise. Others are mental health professionals who understand emotions but lack legal training. We bridge both worlds with certified family law specialists who understand the law and the human dynamics of divorce.
Our transparent flat-fee pricing eliminates billing surprises, and we offer free consultations to ensure mediation fits your situation. We’ve helped thousands of Orange County families navigate divorce with dignity while preserving relationships that matter, especially when children are involved.
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