You walk away with an agreement you helped create. Not one handed down by a judge who spent 20 minutes reviewing your file.
That’s the difference between mediation and litigation. You’re in control of the timeline, the costs, and the outcome. Your mediator facilitates the conversation, keeps things moving, and makes sure both sides are heard—but you make the decisions.
Most couples who choose mediation in Smeltzer finish their divorce in a fraction of the time it takes in court. You’re not waiting months for a hearing date. You’re not paying attorneys to argue over every detail. You’re sitting down with someone neutral, working through the hard stuff, and moving on with your life.
The process is confidential. What you discuss stays in that room. And because you’re both part of building the solution, you’re far more likely to stick to it long-term—especially when kids are involved.
We built Level Dispute Resolution for families in Orange County who want a better way through divorce. We’re not litigators looking to rack up billable hours. We’re trained mediators who specialize in helping couples untangle their lives without turning it into a war.
Smeltzer sits in one of the most expensive housing markets in California. That means property division isn’t simple, and neither is figuring out spousal support when your cost of living is this high. We get it because we work here.
Our mediators have extensive backgrounds in California family law. We know what the courts care about, what’s negotiable, and what’s not. That knowledge helps you avoid mistakes that could cost you later—and keeps the process moving when things feel stuck.
You start with a consultation. We’ll talk about your situation, what you’re trying to resolve, and whether mediation makes sense for you. If it does, we’ll schedule your first session.
During mediation, both of you meet with a neutral mediator in a private setting. You’ll go through the issues one by one—property, support, custody if you have kids. The mediator doesn’t take sides. They ask questions, clarify options, and help you work toward an agreement that’s fair and realistic.
Some couples finish in one extended session. Others need a few. It depends on how complex your finances are and how much you’ve already agreed on. Either way, you’re moving at your own pace—not the court’s.
Once you reach an agreement, we draft the necessary paperwork. You’ll review it, make any final changes, and then file it with the court. In California, you still need a judge to sign off, but when both parties agree, that’s usually a formality. No trial. No testimony. Just closure.
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We handle divorce mediation, post-judgment modifications, and disputes over child custody or spousal support. If you’re dealing with a change in income, a move, or a disagreement about parenting time, mediation can resolve it without going back to court.
In Smeltzer and the surrounding Orange County area, housing values have a huge impact on divorce settlements. If you own property together, we’ll help you figure out what’s fair—whether that means one person buys out the other, you sell and split the proceeds, or you work out another arrangement.
Child custody is another area where mediation makes a real difference. Courts in California prioritize the best interests of the child, but they don’t know your family like you do. Mediation lets you build a parenting plan that actually fits your schedules, your kids’ needs, and your co-parenting relationship.
We also work with couples on spousal support. California doesn’t have a strict formula for this, so there’s room to negotiate based on income, length of marriage, and future earning potential. Our job is to help you land on something sustainable for both sides.
Mediation costs a fraction of what you’d spend on litigation. We use a flat-fee pricing model, so you know what you’re paying upfront—no surprise bills.
Traditional divorce litigation in California can easily run $15,000 to $30,000 per person, sometimes more if your case drags on. That’s because you’re paying two attorneys by the hour to fight over every detail. Mediation typically costs a few thousand dollars total, and you’re splitting that cost.
The reason it’s cheaper is simple: you’re not paying for court appearances, depositions, or endless back-and-forth between lawyers. You’re sitting down together, working through the issues, and getting it done. Most couples in Smeltzer who choose mediation save tens of thousands of dollars and months of stress.
You don’t have to agree on everything before you start. That’s what the mediator is there for—to help you find common ground.
Mediation works even when you’re stuck. The mediator will ask questions that get you thinking differently about the problem. They’ll explain what’s realistic under California law and what a judge would likely do if you went to court. Sometimes that’s enough to shift the conversation.
If you hit a wall on one issue, you move to the next and come back later. Progress doesn’t have to be linear. And if mediation truly doesn’t work, you still have the option to litigate—but most couples in Orange County find that once they start talking in a neutral setting, things move faster than they expected.
Mediation is confidential under California law. What you discuss in mediation can’t be brought up in court if you end up litigating later.
That confidentiality is crucial because it lets you speak openly without worrying that your words will be used against you. You can float ideas, make offers, and explore options without committing to anything until you reach a final agreement.
The only exception is if something involves child abuse or a threat of harm—mediators are required to report that. But everything else stays private. Even the mediator can’t be called to testify about what was said. That protection encourages honest conversation and makes it easier to find solutions that work for both of you.
It depends on your situation, but most couples finish mediation in one to three sessions. Each session typically lasts a few hours.
If your finances are straightforward and you’ve already agreed on the big issues, you might wrap everything up in a single extended session. If you own property in Smeltzer’s competitive real estate market, have retirement accounts to divide, or need to work through a detailed parenting plan, it could take longer.
California requires a six-month waiting period from the time you file for divorce until it’s finalized, but that’s a legal requirement—not a reflection of how long mediation takes. Many couples complete their mediation and file their agreement within a few weeks, then just wait out the mandatory period. Compare that to litigation, which can stretch on for a year or more, and you’re looking at a much faster path forward.
You don’t need a lawyer to participate in mediation, but some people choose to consult one anyway. It’s your call.
The mediator is neutral—they can’t give you legal advice or advocate for your interests. Their job is to facilitate the conversation and help you reach an agreement. If you want someone to review the terms before you sign, or if your situation is especially complex, talking to an attorney outside of mediation can give you peace of mind.
Some couples each hire a consulting attorney who reviews documents and answers questions along the way. Others go through mediation first, reach an agreement, and then have a lawyer look it over before filing. Either approach works. The key is that mediation itself is designed to be accessible without attorneys in the room, which keeps costs down and the process moving.
Yes. Post-judgment mediation is common in California, especially when circumstances change and you need to modify custody, support, or other terms.
Maybe you got a new job and your income changed. Maybe your ex wants to move out of state with the kids. Maybe your teenager’s needs are different now than they were when you first divorced. Instead of filing a motion and going back to court, you can use mediation to work out a new agreement.
Post-judgment mediation follows the same process as divorce mediation. You meet with a neutral mediator, discuss what’s changed, and figure out what makes sense going forward. Once you agree, the updated terms get filed with the court. It’s faster, cheaper, and a lot less adversarial than litigating every time something in your life shifts.
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