Alternatives Means For Resolving Divorces In California

More than ever before, couples facing divorce want to find ways to end their marriages without going through litigation. This makes sense. With reduced resources, the courts have never been as backlogged as they are now. The traditional litigation process is not like it is on TV — over in a single hour episode. It is costly, time-consuming, contentious and stressful.

At John T. Chamberlin, Attorney at Law, in Pleasanton, I help clients find a more amicable and efficient approach to divorce through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). With more than 30 years of experience handling all types of divorce and separation matters for clients throughout Alameda County, California, I will help you find a favorable result in your divorce without having to go through the traditional courtroom process.

Forms Of Alternative Dispute Resolution For Divorcing Couples

There are many ways to manage a divorce without litigation, including:

• Mediation: In the mediation process, both parties meet with a neutral mediator while represented by their own counsel if they so choose to come to resolution on the remaining disputed issues in their divorce.
• Collaborative law: Collaborative law divorce is similar to mediation, but in collaborative law, the attorneys agree that they will not represent their clients if the case should go to litigation. This means that the lawyers involved have more incentive to resolve matters in ADR rather than push for costly litigation.
• Private judges and arbitration: Using a private judge is another valuable option. Although hiring a private judge may seem like it will make this process more expensive, it actually makes finalizing a contested case more time- and cost-effective. The benefit is that you can usually get a private judge for several days in a row so you can resolve your divorce conflicts in one bulk of time, instead of one day or a half-day at a time over several months, which is the normal court process. This can save money in the long run. Because everything is handled all at once, the lawyers and judges do not have to get reacquainted with the issues several times, which can streamline the process and lead to better prepared cases and more informed decisions.

In the vast majority of cases, divorcing couples who use ADR are much happier with the process, and the results are often better as well, because the couples have more creative control over the process and the outcomes of their cases.

Contact John T. Chamberlin, Attorney At Law

I can serve as a neutral facilitator in your mediation session or I can represent your individual interests in the collaborative law or arbitration process.

I invite you to contact me online or call 925-271-5650 to discuss how ADR can help you in your divorce or separation.