2. Getting Ready for Mediation
3. Initial Consultation
4. Your Appointments
5. Mediation Sessions
6. Your Marital Settlement Agreement (and other documents)
7. Finalization
When you first call The Center for Private Divorce Settlement, Lemonbar Divorce, you will be speaking with our well informed staff, who will answer any questions you have about our services. When you call, you never speak with the mediator who will be handling your case. You will always speak with our administrative staff (who knows about our mediation process and our mediators). This way, you and your spouse do not have to worry about your mediator being contacted by phone by you or your spouse outside of your presence. You may choose to proceed with mediation and schedule your first session over the phone; however, if you decide to schedule an initial in-person consultation, our staff will arrange that for you.
2. Getting Ready for Mediation
We will provide you with a few forms which must be completed by all divorcing couples. These forms require information about your assets, debts, income and expenses. We will go over them in order to assist you in understanding the forms. We will also provide you with a list of documents to get together and detailed instructions.
3. Initial Consultation
If you are satisfied with your telephonic consultations, and decide to set your first appointment to commence mediation, this will be done over the phone.
If you decide to set your first appointment as an in-person consultation, we are usually able to schedule an appointment for an initial consultation within one week. At your initial consultation, you will get to know the mediator with whom you will be working, and get a feel for the comfortable atmosphere. The mediator will explain the mediation process in detail, the fees in detail, and get a general picture of your situation. Lemonbar will provide you with a list of necessary information to assemble and a list of information you will need to give us. Often, it is helpful to determine "homework" to better prepare for the next session.
4. Your Appointments
The Center for Private Divorce Settlement, Lemonbar Divorce schedules all sessions as two hour appointments. We have locations in San Diego and Imperial Counties. We have appointments at varying times throughout the week, including evening and weekend appointments in many locations.
5. Mediation Sessions
The Center for Private Divorce Settlement, Lemonbar Divorce, will schedule an appointment for your first mediation session within two weeks of your initial consultation. Most sessions are joint sessions, with the mediator working with you and your spouse together. If there is a need for individual sessions, such can be arranged; however, most couples quickly realize that progress is made more quickly when the sessions are joint sessions. Our flat fee includes up to three two-hour sessions; however, if you need additional sessions, we will continue to meet until all issues are resolved.
6. Your Marital Settlement Agreement (and other documents)
Once you have come to an agreement regarding all issues, we will prepare all of the documents necessary to complete you divorce through the courts, including a comprehensive Marital Settlement Agreement. We also deliver and file all documents on your behalf at the appropriate courthouse.
7. Finalization
Most of our clients have completed mediation within a month or two. Thirty days after the initial court papers are received in mediation, we can submit your agreement to be signed off on by the Judge and incorporated into a Judgment of Dissolution. In California, there is a 6 month waiting period between the date the initial court papers are received and the date that your status of marriage is terminated; however, your agreement is effective immediately upon your signing. All provisions are orders of the court as soon as the Judgment is signed by the Judge. The Judge also sets forth the date your status of marriage will terminate in the future. You do not have to go back to court or do any further documents to terminate the status of marriage, it automatically happens on the date set forth by the Judge.
