How do I start the mediation process & how does the process work?

If you and/or your spouse or other Party is interested in mediating your case with Miller & Associates, then follow these simple steps:

1. Call our office to set up a phone conference or initial meeting with you and your spouse or other Party.� 916-780-0848.
2. Together, either on the phone or in person at either our Rocklin or Folsom office, you will meet with an attorney mediator for a free ½ hour consultation. During this meeting our mediator will explain the mediation process and the difference between mediation, collaborative law, and litigation, discuss our fees, and answer any questions you might have. During this meeting, if you wish to retain our mediation services, we can move forward and start reaching agreements that day!
3. After the first mediation session, we will schedule another mediation session about 2 weeks later. At the second mediation session, we will work on discussing any urgent issues either Party needs addressed, and work on gathering necessary information and identifying issues. As we discuss issues we will reach agreements. Part of this information gathering includes gathering information that must be considered or included in your required forms and disclosures that have to be filed with the Court and/or served on the other Party, such as the Petition for Divorce, Response, Petition for Paternity, Income & Expense Declaration, Schedule of Assets & Debts, Declaration of Disclosures, and your Judgment and Marital Settlement Agreement.
4. Before every mediation session, we remind the Parties of out ground rules when mediating cases, which include but are not limited to: treating one another with respect, focus on the future, no blaming or name calling, if you do not want to agree, you do not have to, and this process is completely voluntary.
5. In divorce or support cases involving complex financial issues or business valuations, we will recommend that the parties hire a financial expert. The financial experts that we will recommend are also trained mediators, which is important so that the mediation process is not disrupted. Financial experts are very helpful in divorce cases where one party manages all the finances and the other party is “in the dark.” The financial expert is a neutral party that will objectively explain the true facts to the parties and assist them in reaching agreements on the valuation of any business, the valuation of any real estate, and to determine income available for child support or spousal support.

For more information on mediation or how our lawyers can facilitate the mediation process,� contact  Miller & Associates. We can help you determine the type of dispute resolution that best fits your situation.