Orange Divorce Mediation Attorney Serving Orange and Los Angeles County
My name is attorney David L. Price. I have more than 40 years of experience in all areas of
California divorce and family law, including service as a private judge and special master/referee
since 1980. I have held the highest AV Preeminent rating* in the Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating system since 1984. I have been listed among America's Best Lawyers for Orange County family law, and I enjoy a current listing among the Los Angeles Times Super Lawyers for Orange County.
Although the effect of mediation in a supportive, informal, and private setting may help heal the
wounds that are inflicted when a marital relationship breaks down, my main focus is to guide
couples through a process that will result in a divorce agreement that is fundamentally fair and
that each client can live with. Mediation has been proven to be the most cost-effective and efficient way to resolve divorce issues, and one of the nice things is that in mediation we have the ability to agree to provisions that a judge would not have the authority to order after a trial.
Why would you consider litigation if you can remain in control?
Mediation allows you to remain in control of the process. Litigation is costly in terms of money, time and anxiety. You are put into a position of dealing with your spouse through lawyers and getting answers from judges. Mediation is a supportive, private setting, geared to allow each party time to consider all of the information and feel comfortable as you move through the process. You will have access to the specialists and experts you need to help you gather and analyze the information.
Free 30-Minute Consultation to Explain the Process and My Services
I offer a free, no-obligation consultation to fully explain the mediation process and my fees for
services. If you decide to retain me as your mediation professional, we will schedule a series of
sessions, typically lasting about two hours each. I find that morning hours are the most
appropriate for these sessions as everyone has more energy than later in the day.
The Process
The initial mediation session will define the issues and what information is needed by both parties in order to make informed decisions and proposals for a resolution. By the second session the parties should be prepared to discuss current income and expenses, as well as assets and debts and whether any of the assets or debts are separate and not community property. In one of the first sessions we will discuss whether outside experts such as real estate or business appraiser will be appropriate.
There are many details to be worked out in a divorce agreement, so although some couples may come to the initial mediation session with a tentative agreement they usually find there are many more details to be thought of and sometimes there are issues which the parties haven't thought through. Where there are no agreements, and even where the parties are quite angry and unsure whether they can mediate, a calm discussion designed to share information about the income of each party and the various assets and debts, gets things started on an even keel.
While I expect clients to have the usual feelings of divorcing couples such as anger, jealousy, sadness, anxiety and fear, I am very good at working with couples to limit the expression of these feelings in a way which prevents the process from moving forward.
After reaching a mediated settlement, I prepare a first draft of a marital settlement agreement
(MSA) and send it to the parties for their review, hopefully along with the review by an attorney of their choosing. Often we have a meeting to discuss some details and perhaps some changes. Once the final agreement has been accepted, it is sent to the parties along with judgment paperwork, and when these papers have been signed and returned to my office I present them to the Court through an expedited process so that usually we get the papers signed by the Judge and back from the court within two weeks.
Do You Need Your Own Lawyer?
It is not mandatory that a party have a lawyer, but I always advise each party to obtain legal
counsel, not so that they sit in on the mediation sessions, but to provide support during the
mediation process. Clients can expect to ask their attorney specific legal advice as well as assist the client in understanding with advice related solely to their own self interest. As the mediator I am not able to advise clients to accept or reject offers or to urge them to take a certain position. At the very least, every client should have their own attorney review the final agreement before signing it. California law provides the same confidentiality during mediation as it does for settlement negotiations. What is said in mediation by either party of the mediator cannot be used in court.
How Long Will the Mediation Take?
Typically, I schedule four mediation sessions spread out over two or three months. In California, a divorce cannot be granted in less than six months from the date of filing. Whenever possible, the mediation sessions are completed within the six-month period.
Cost of Mediation
I charge $200 per mediation session hour for each spouse, or $400/hour total per mediation
session hour. The total cost of all mediation sessions is typically significantly less than the cost of each party's attorneys' fees, in the event of litigation.
Experienced Orange Divorce Mediator
From my office in Orange, I provide California divorce mediation and family law negotiation
services for clients throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County. Contact my office to
arrange an initial 30- to 45-minute free consultation about mediation services, my fee schedule
and other areas of my California family law practice.
*AV Preeminent and BV Distinguished are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell ratings fall into two categories: legal ability and general ethical standards.