Mediation in California Divorce

Ariana Grande is once again whipping up controversy. In July of 2023, the singer made headlines when she announced she was divorcing her husband and debuted a relationship with her married co-star, Ethan Slater. Then, Mr. Slater subsequently divorced his wife. All of this happened within a matter of days. Adding to the chaos was the fact that Mr. Slater and his wife shared an infant at home at the time.

Now, months later, Ms. Grande has released a song titled “The Boy is Mine” that many are saying is a slap in the face to her boyfriend’s wife, and to women in general. Ms. Grande and Mr. Slater reportedly began living together in New York during the time Mr. Slater was performing in the Broadway musical “Spamalot.”

While Ms. Grande’s divorce was reportedly finalized on Oct. 6 of 2023, Mr. Slater and his wife are still in the mediation phase of their own divorce.

So what is the role of mediation in a California divorce? What does it entail? And how long does such a process take?

What is California Divorce Mediation?

California divorce mediation is typically voluntary and confidential. It involves a neutral third party coming in to help a divorcing couple finalize their divorce agreement without the necessity of going through a trial.

Various terms can be settled in mediation, including child custody arrangements, spousal support agreements, debt division, and property allocation.

Why Do People Pursue Mediation?

The parties themselves guide the terms of agreement in mediation. Accordingly, the ultimate terms are often more favorable or workable to the couple than what would be handed down via court order. The parties themselves, for instance, are in a better position to know what custodial days are better for each parent and are most beneficial to the family’s schedule, if the parents are planning to split custody.

Mediation can also take less time and, with that factor alone, end up being less expensive. Court involvement subjects you to delays caused by the court’s schedule. Multiple court dates invariably prolong the time the divorce will take to finalize.

When Mediation May Not Work

Not every situation will work well with mediation. High-conflict divorces or cases that involve domestic violence are not good candidates for mediation. Oftentimes these types of cases need the separation afforded by traditional litigation and the protection provided by the court.

Mediation may also not be the best choice if one spouse is not being transparent with the other party, and where there is an unwillingness to cooperate. An evasive or non-cooperative spouse could make the other party run around in circles, trying to fix problems that may not be solved through a process that relies solely on agreement between the parties.

How Long Does Divorce Mediation Take?

The length of time mediation will take depends on several issues. For example, how complicated is the case? How cooperative are the parties? On average, the process takes a few months. However, the specifics of your own case will determine that timeline.

Contact Cardwell, Steigerwald Young

Having an attorney in your corner during the course of a divorce and mediation can be pivotal in the outcome of your case. Contact the San Francisco family lawyers at Cardwell, Steigerwald Young and ensure that you have the expertise you need to navigate through your divorce and land on your best possible footing.

Sources:

courts.ca.gov/1226.htm?rdeLocaleAttr=en

usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/inside-ethan-slaters-divorce-from-estranged-wife-lilly-jay/