Divorce Without Court: A Guide to Mediation and Collaborative Divorce

by Katherine Stoner Attorney

Overview

Avoid the expense and stress of divorce court

Ending a marriage is always difficult, but you don’t have to be financially or emotionally overwhelmed. Through mediation or a collaborative divorce, you can avoid huge legal bills and debilitating conflict with your ex.

This book guides you through all the steps of negotiating a divorce settlement, using mediation or collaborative law.

Encouraging, straightforward, and inspiring, Divorce Without Court explains mediation and collaborative divorce and shows you how to:

• choose the right method for your family
• maximize opportunities for settlement
• get an agreement in writing
• find mediators, attorneys, and advisers, and
• protect your children first, last, and always.

Divorce Without Court provides state court websites, contact information for mediation organizations, and clear examples of what you can expect in mediation or collaborative divorce.

With Downloadable forms: Get more than 20 forms, including mediation agreements, financial worksheets, and a negotiation checklist— details inside.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781413328714
Publisher:	NOLO
Publication date:	05/14/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Katherine E. Stoner is an attorney/mediator in private practice with the firm of Stoner, Welsh&Schmidt in Pacific Grove, California. In addition to mediation, her practice includes consulting attorney services for clients who are in mediation. Ms. Stoner is a Certified Family Law Specialist, who teaches community property at Monterey College of Law and is on the training staff of the Center for Mediation and Law in Mill Valley, California. She has lectured extensively on family law and mediation and has been interviewed by major media including NBC's Today Show.

Table of Contents

I. Introduction - Divorce Without Court: Your Best Option 1.The Role of Mediation and Collaborative Law in the Divorce Process 2.What Happens in Mediation 3.What Happens in a Collaborative Divorce 4.Deciding to Mediate or Collaborate 5.Proposing Mediation or Collaboration 6.Finding a Mediator 7.Finding a Collaborative Attorney 8.Using Advisers and Doing Legal Research 9.Getting Started on Information-Gathering 10.Preparing for and Making the Most of the First Session 11.Evaluating Your Progress in Mediation or Collaborative Divorce 12.Communicating in Mediation or Collaborative Divorce 13.Negotiating in Mediation or Collaborative Divorce 14.Court-Sponsored Mediation 15.Encountering Difficulties in Mediation and Collaboration 16.Writing Up the Divorce Agreement 17. Divorce for Same-Sex Couples 18. Women and Men in Mediation and Collaborative Divorce 19. Unmarried Couples in Mediation and Collaboration 20. Mediation and Collaboration After Divorce Appendixes A. Worksheets on the Nolo Website B. State Court Websites Index

Interviews

This book is intended to be a resource for anyone going through a divorce who wants to make the process as hassle free and constructive as possible. It helps readers decide whether working with a mediator or collaborative professional makes sense for them. If so, the book offers tips on choosing and working with a mediator or collaborative lawyer, preparing for each step along the way, how to negotiate, and what to do when problems arise. The examples, techniques, worksheets and other tools come from more than 30 years of experience working with divorcing couples and helping them navigate the often confusing – and sometimes overwhelming – divorce experience.

Editorial Reviews

"Divorce is never emotionally easy to get through, but with useful resources such as... Divorce Without Court, it does not have to be financially devastating." American Reference Books Annual

“Finally—a realistic and balanced approach to getting divorced without costly court battles. This accessible book takes divorcing couples through the entire process.” Gary Friedman, Author of a Guide to Divorce Mediation

“A person considering divorce could not have a more valuable resource than Divorce Without Court. A comprehensive step-by-step guide through the process for people who want to avoid the expense and damage of litigation.” Chip Rose, Author of Collaborative Family Law Practice

"Stoner explains how people ending their marriage can avoid the high cost and the escalation of lawyers by finding a neutral mediator or two lawyers (one for each party) who offer a new approach to resolving divorces called collaborative law or collaborative divorce. These professionals help the two parties come to agreement on the issues without a legal battle, she says. The topics include the role of mediation and collaborative law in the divorce process, proposing mediation or collaboration to your spouse, preparing for and making the most of the first session, negotiating in mediation or collaborative divorce, divorce for same-sex couples, and mediation and collaboration after divorce." Eithne O'Leyne, Editor Ringgold, Inc. ProtoView

From the Publisher

Shows you how to part company with your spouse without losing your sanity in the process.

MyFamilyLaw.com

Divorce is never emotionally easy to get through, but with useful resources such as... Divorce Without Court, it does not have to be financially devastating.

American Reference Books Annual