Uncontested Divorce Lawyers in Ontario, California
Uncontested Divorces
Not too many people start out wishing their divorces to be expensive. Unfortunately, high emotions regarding parenting and fights over financial assets can lengthen the divorce process and result in a marriage dissolution where a high percentage of the spouses’ assets have bled out in legal fees and court costs. At Schwartzberg | Luther, APC, we strive daily to guide clients through the divorce process in an efficient, low-conflict and cost-effective way.
Uncontested divorces and divorce mediation are two processes that can help divorcing spouses move through the family court quickly and with minimal expense. The key to success in both cases is agreement on the major issues or a sufficiently amicable attitude that the spouses are willing to consider compromise.
Honest Answers for Your Family
Uncontested divorces are available to spouses who wish to get a divorce or a legal separation – if they agree on all issues. This means the spouses agree on child custody, visitation and a parenting plan; child support amounts and method of payment; whether one spouse will receive spousal maintenance; and how the spouses will divide jointly owned assets and debts. Uncontested divorces usually require fewer court forms and filing fees.
Divorce mediation is an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process in which the divorcing spouses select a trained mediator to act as a neutral third party to help them resolve disagreements without having to go through a family court judge. You can hire a private mediator to help resolve issues that don’t relate to children or parenting – for example, property division or spousal maintenance.
California family law courts require mediation if divorcing parents cannot agree on child custody and visitation plans. The court-appointed mediator will try to help the spouses compromise on a parenting plan, but the parents do not have to accept the proposals. If you do not reach an agreement via mediation and go to trial, the divorce court judge may request the mediator’s opinion.
In a collaborative law divorce, the spouses and lawyers all sign an agreement at the beginning of the process outlining how they will conduct the negotiations. Spouses using collaborative law usually share one expert (for example, a property valuation expert) rather than hiring separate experts. The most compelling aspect of collaborative divorce law is that the agreement usually states that if the spouses are unable to reach agreement through negotiation and they choose to go to court, they must hire new lawyers. The collaborative law attorneys cannot represent them in court. This is a strong incentive for the spouses to reach agreement, and for their attorneys to help them do so.
Contact Us
We understand that you will have many questions for our attorneys so we are here to give you honest answers. Schwartzberg | Luther are uncontested divorce lawyers in Ontario, CA and offer weekend and evening appointments when necessary, we are here to help. Contact us to schedule a legal consultation at 909-457-4270 or fill out our online contact form and schedule your consultation today.
