Do you want to SETTLE your Family Law case without going to court? Is your divorce case currently stuck in the court system with no end in sight, and you want to jump out to a better option?

Do you want to save substantially on attorney fees? Do you want to minimize animosity between the parties? Do you want to save time (sometimes years) in concluding your matter? Are both parties reasonable and willing to work together to reach an amicable settlement?

We use mediation to quickly, and efficiently, settle family law cases. Whether you are currently stuck in the court system and just want things to be done, or just starting the process and want to save a ton of time and money, we can help!

Whether you are seeking property division, child custody/visitation, or support, using mediation instead of litigation is almost always better. Reaching an agreement through mediation is usually less expensive, and generally the quickest way to bring your divorce, custody, or support matter to conclusion. We typically can settle a case in as little as 60-90 days using mediation!

Mediation is a settlement process. Both parties work with an independent attorney, who gives no preference to either party in the settlement outcome. The attorney will work with both parties, educating them on legal principles and anticipated court rulings, and will work to reach agreements with the parties on all issues. Our firm is creative in finding solutions and overcoming settlement obstacles - we’re not afraid to think outside the box to make custom and individually tailored agreements.

Yes! Often, after partially litigating a divorce, the parties might yearn for a peaceful mediation. Court is stressful, litigation is expensive, and you never know what you’re going to end up with. If the parties already have attorneys, they can still proceed to mediation by themselves with the mediator. Agreements reached in mediation can later be used by the attorneys to complete the final judgment.

Yes! Identifying various properties, community assets, and community debts is a large part of mediation services. Our programs easily track these issues, even in the most complicated of cases. Once all assets and debts have been identified and valued, we are able to start the division process. During this division, we take into account the various needs and desires of the parties and try to work out an equal division that gives each party the properties or other assets they truly want, offset by a division of debts, and to determine any equalization amounts that will be owed by one party to the other. This can be a very substantial part of the case, and our office works diligently with both parties to reach these very important agreements. We are skilled at “balancing the scales”, using both tangible and intangible elements of the case to reach a final agreement that both parties will find acceptable.

Yes! Spousal support can sometimes be a very large part, or even the main part, of a mediated settlement agreement. This area often involves various emotions and can be difficult for the parties to resolve on their own. We ensure that both parties are knowledgeable about the relevant items the court considers when awarding support under the Family Code, and we can estimate the amount of spousal support that might be ordered and the length of time such payments might endure. We work jointly with the parties to analyze the relevant factors as they relate to their particular circumstances, and to reach a fair and equitable agreement.

For parties that have minor children, an agreement for custody, and the time and duration of the visitation periods, is another area fraught with emotions. We calmly and realistically discuss items such as current parenting times, work schedules, location of schools, parenting issues, drug, alcohol or domestic violence abuse, and the presence and influence of third parties. The actual issues in every case are different, and we try to develop unique and personalized custody and visitation agreements that benefit and work for everyone, including, most importantly, the children.

Yes! Financial information including your income, assets and debts often get disclosed to the public by documents filed with the court during a family law case. In mediation however, we can often prevent the disclosure of sensitive information to which the public has access, keeping your personal financial and property concerns private.

At Smith Law Group, we have been settling matters for parties for over 35 years. We pride ourselves on our extensive experience, our settlement abilities, and our continuing modernization. We will handle all the paperwork required in your case from beginning to end, and ensure that both parties fully understand and agree with the proposed final judgment. Before the final judgment is submitted, each party can have the proposed settlement reviewed by a separate attorney for a second opinion. Our settlements are rarely second guessed by outside attorneys because we are fair and transparent throughout the process.

If you are contemplating divorce or a custody action, please reach out to us. We will help determine if mediation is a viable option for your situation, and if it is, we’ll help you initiate the process . . . simply and efficiently.