Orange County Non-Adversarial Child Custody Lawyers
Our settlement-oriented attorneys will help you finish your child custody case
Your children come first, and protecting them from the impact of a divorce or child custody dispute should be your first priority. Non-adversarial legal services can help you reduce the impact of your separation on your children by reducing conflict and promoting relationship-building.
The best thing you can do for your children is to build a healthy relationship with their other parent, and working with a neutral attorney or mediator to settle your case is an excellent first step towards a cooperative and mutually supportive relationship with your ex.
Best Interests of the Child
Any family law attorney can tell you that the guiding principle of a child custody case is the “best interests of the child.” Protecting children and promoting their well-being is the highest priority of California Family Law and family law judges.
Our non-adversarial services are meant to serve the best interests of children by providing parents with an opportunity to start their co-parenting journey on the best terms possible, giving them the chance to work together to settle their divorce while practicing cooperation, kindness, and compromise.
Your children’s best interests are served by your willingness to work together.
Frequent and Continuing Contact
The California Family Code begins from the presumption that children are best served by having “frequent and continuing contact” with both parents. That means that after your divorce is final, your relationship with your ex will continue so that your children can continue their relationship with both of you.
This is often hard for parents who are understandably hurt and angry at their ex, but it is the reality they will have to face in order to give their children what they need. Our non-adversarial services will help you start the hard work of being co-parents with the support of a neutral attorney who will help you build a parenting plan that works for you and your kids.
Doesn’t the court provide free mediation? Why should I pay for private mediation?
It is true that the family court does provide free “mediation” through Family Court Services. However, the mediation lasts only one hour, and afterward the mediator will (typically) provide a report to the court which contains either the agreements reached by the parties during the mediation or a recommendation by the mediator if the parties were unable to reach an agreement. This means this free “mediation” is not confidential, does not provide enough time for meaningful discussions of the needs of the children, and usually results in a recommendation that becomes your parenting plan after it is rubber-stamped by a judge, whether or not you agreed to it.
Private mediation, on the other hand, is confidential, lasts at least two hours, provides both parties with opportunities to speak their needs and concerns, and does not result in any binding orders unless both parties agree.
Serve your children by building a relationship with your ex
Mediation provides a valuable opportunity to work on the skills needed to build a cooperative relationship with your ex. The skillful guidance of a mediator can help both parties express their needs to the other while exploring areas of potential compromise, thus promoting the type of mutual understanding necessary to work together to meet your children’s needs.
Mediation also provides an opportunity to air hurt feelings and grievances - something that a court hearing will not provide. By allowing parties space to express their anger, frustration, or hurt, mediation can help the parties move past those feelings towards a settlement that works for both.
work together with a to build a parenting plan
What sets a better example for your children than working together to make a plan for their care?
Mediation allows parents to work out a plan that is truly best for their families. In mediation, you can choose creative solutions that would not be available to you if you were to allow a court - or a family court services mediator - to decide your case.
Build a flexible, complete, and thorough plan with the help of a neutral skilled in counseling, fully informed about the law, and educated about the needs of children at every stage of development.