County music singer Trace Adkins has just ended his divorce from his wife of 17 years, Rhonda. While the split has been in the news, the terms of the divorce have remained quiet. The reason why the parties were able to reach a resolution of their issues without a judge making a ruling and there is being a public record is because they utilized mediation.
Mediation is a process wherein the parties involved in a dissolution meet with a neutral third party mediator to work toward a settlement. The mediation process is voluntary and private to allow for flexibility in the process. In order to facilitate open communication and dialogue between the parties in mediation the State of California enacted Evidence Code §§1115-1128, which protects the confidentiality of the process. This means that disclosures made during mediation generally cannot be used if the parties decide later to litigate their matter in the Family Court.
Mediation is a valuable process to allow for parties to speak candidly and can be beneficial in complex, high asset cases. The parties can represent themselves or utilize attorneys to advocate for them during the process. Mediation can often keep legal costs down and allow for personalized settlement results in a less formal atmosphere.
The attorneys at Bickford Blado & Botros have a great deal of experience in both representing clients at mediation and mediating disputes between parties. Please contact us if you are considering mediation to resolve your divorce, legal separation, or have questions regarding the issues surrounding the mediation process. Nancy J. Bickford is the only lawyer in San Diego County representing clients in divorces, who is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) and who is actively licensed as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Don’t settle for less when determining your rights. Call 858-793-8884 in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, North County or San Diego.