You’re facing one of life’s biggest transitions, but you don’t have to surrender control to a judge who barely knows your situation. Mediation allows both parties to work together to reach mutually acceptable agreements, giving you the power to shape your future rather than leaving it in someone else’s hands.
Mediation usually costs less than half, and often less than one third, of what a litigated divorce would cost. More importantly, it’s faster—parties can obtain a final dissolution judgment in as little as 6-months at a cost of possibly $2,000 to $5,000 total.
When children are involved, mediation becomes even more valuable. It encourages cooperative co-parenting, reducing stress and fostering a healthier family environment post-separation. Your kids don’t need to watch their parents battle in court—they need to see you working together to build their future.
We bring serious legal expertise to The Promenade area. Our founder Daniel C. Hunter IV is a board-certified family law specialist—an elite distinction held by less than one percent of attorneys in California. With over 25 years of experience, he brings unmatched legal knowledge and has helped thousands of clients navigate divorce with clarity, fairness, and dignity.
We understand Orange County’s unique challenges. Housing market trends significantly affect divorce settlements, particularly in property valuation and asset negotiations. Whether you’re dealing with complex property divisions or straightforward custody arrangements, we know how to navigate these local realities.
Recognized as a Top 100 Lawyer by the National Advocates and a Martindale Client Champion, our team combines legal precision with genuine care for families going through difficult times.
We start with a free consultation where you’ll learn exactly how mediation works and whether it’s right for your situation. No pressure, just honest answers about your options.
During mediation sessions, both you and your spouse meet with our neutral mediator in a private, confidential setting. Mediation is confidential, meaning all discussions and agreements are private. We facilitate productive conversations about custody, support, and property division, helping you find solutions that work for your family.
Successful mediation typically resolves divorce terms in as little as a few meetings with a mediator. Once you reach agreements, we prepare all the legal documents and handle the court filing process. You get a legally binding settlement without ever stepping foot in a courtroom.
Ready to get started?
The Promenade area represents some of Orange County’s most valuable real estate, which makes property division particularly complex during divorce. When home prices increase rapidly, parties may see inflated asset values, impacting divorce settlements, while reduced home values can lead to contentious negotiations. We understand these local market dynamics and help couples navigate property valuations fairly.
We’ve empowered hundreds of OC couples to take control of their divorce, saving an average of $10,000 per couple. Beyond cost savings, mediation offers something litigation can’t: parties get to be heard in a safe environment, which allows them to communicate better in the future, especially helpful if there are children of the marriage.
For busy professionals in The Promenade area, mediation’s flexibility is invaluable. You schedule sessions around your life, not a court’s calendar. Mediation only takes a few months, giving you the flexibility to schedule meetings according to your schedule without having to wait for a court date.
Typically, mediation costs around $5,000 in California, while a litigated divorce can cost as much as $15,000, and sometimes over $40,000. The difference comes down to control and efficiency.
In mediation, you’re sharing the cost of one neutral professional instead of each hiring separate attorneys who bill hundreds of dollars per hour. Mediation costs $3,000 – $7,000 total (split between both spouses) compared to $15,000 – $30,000 per spouse for traditional divorce litigation. Mediation allows both spouses to share the cost of one mediator, rather than each hiring their own attorney at high hourly rates.
More importantly, mediation moves faster. A courtroom divorce can take years to finalize, leading to high legal bills, while mediation typically resolves in a few weeks or months, lowering costs significantly. When you’re not paying attorneys to argue over every detail, your money goes toward building your new life instead of funding conflict.
Yes, disagreement doesn’t disqualify you from mediation—it’s exactly why mediation exists. Mediation involves both spouses working with a neutral third party who facilitates discussions and helps the couple resolve issues such as child custody, division of assets, and support arrangements.
The key is whether you’re both willing to negotiate in good faith. Mediation suits couples who can communicate openly, are willing to compromise, and consider if you and your ex-spouse are willing to cooperate, maintain flexibility, and work together toward a mutually acceptable resolution.
Even in high-conflict situations, mediation often works better than court. This collaborative approach removes the adversarial nature often seen in family court, where decisions are made by a judge with limited insight into the family dynamics. In mediation, you have time to explain your perspective and understand your spouse’s concerns, leading to solutions that actually make sense for your family.
At the most basic level, mediation takes about 3 to 6 months to complete. California law also has a minimum 6-month waiting period after the date the divorce petition is served before the divorce can be finalized.
The actual mediation sessions move much faster than court proceedings. Typically couples need 5 or fewer meetings and it’s common for clients to reach settlements within 6 or 8 weeks. Complex cases involving multiple properties or business interests may require additional sessions, but you’re still looking at months, not years.
Most emotionally charged matters with custody battles and complicated financial arrangements tend to take longer. Cases can be so simple that they can be finished in 2-3 sessions whereas complicated ones may need 6-8 or more. The timeline ultimately depends on your willingness to work together and the complexity of your assets, but mediation consistently outpaces litigation.
Divorce mediation doesn’t have to end in a complete agreement to have been successful. Even partial agreements save you time and money by narrowing the issues you need to resolve in court.
If mediation reaches an impasse, we can use strategies like reframing issues or consulting experts to overcome deadlocks. Sometimes bringing in a financial expert or child specialist helps break through stuck points.
If mediation doesn’t work out, you still have the option to follow other avenues of conflict resolution—including going to court. However, the communication skills and information sharing that happens during mediation often makes any subsequent legal process more efficient and less contentious. You haven’t lost anything by trying mediation first—you’ve gained valuable insights about your case and your spouse’s priorities.
Yes, mediation agreements are fully legally binding once properly executed. A common misconception is that mediation lacks authority, yet agreements reached are legally binding. The difference is that you create the terms instead of having them imposed by a judge.
The end result of mediation is that we prepare a judgment, which is agreed upon by both parties, which is signed and filed with the court and then it is officially enforceable by the court. Once filed, your mediation agreement has the same legal force as any court order.
Once mediation agreements are reached, they must be incorporated into the legal framework. In California, this involves drafting a comprehensive written agreement reviewed by both parties’ legal counsel. This ensures your agreement meets all legal requirements and protects both parties’ interests. The court reviews and approves the agreement, making it a binding court order.
Mediation is often especially beneficial when children are involved. For cases involving child custody and visitation, mediation can be effective. California law allows parents to mediate disputes in custody or visitation cases, taking steps to avoid unnecessary emotional trauma to children and ensure privacy regarding sensitive issues.
Mediation can be crucial in resolving custody disputes by focusing on the child’s best interests and helps parents create a flexible parenting plan that accommodates changing schedules and needs. Instead of having a judge who doesn’t know your family make decisions about your children’s lives, you and your co-parent craft arrangements that actually work.
Since divorce mediation involves little parental conflict compared to divorce litigation, mediation allows divorcing parties and their children to adjust and adapt, allowing children to meet their potential as they become adults. Your children benefit from seeing their parents work together respectfully, setting a positive example for how to handle disagreements. This cooperative foundation makes co-parenting much more effective after your divorce is final.
Local Resources
Useful Links
Here are some lawyer-related links:
Other Services we provide in The Promenade
Company
