Best Divorce Lawyer

By Author: David D. Stein
Total Articles: 16
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As a divorce mediator one is trained to allow parties a free initial consultation where the fundamentals of California Family law are explained as well as how mediation can help to minimize the costs and umbrage to the parties.

Occasionally, as it is being explained how it is smart to arrive at a negotiated settlement of disputed areas the Divorce Mediator is asked to respond to a question to the effect, “Wouldn’t thinks be different if one party hires the best divorce attorney in San Francisco?”

Perhaps this question is asked to raise the specter of unequal litigation as another way of saying that if I don’t get my way, I have the means to go to war and win it all. Or, possibly, it is just that TV and movies have people believing that all they need is that brilliant lawyer to produce a Perry Mason moment and carry the day!

Any experience divorce lawyer knows that TV has nothing to do with reality. It is instructive to quote the Honorable Judge James W. Stewart, who wrote in his Divorce Handbook for California,

“Put aside the notion that your attorney is a great courthouse advocate ...
... whose skill and ability will hypnotize the judge. As discussed earlier, your case is not going to trial before a judge – short of a miracle; if it does, it will be a financial catastrophe for you.”

What this means is that trying to find a top divorce lawyer and paying for someone with that reputation, expecting to dramatically triumph at trial, is a fool’s errand. Your divorce is not an epic quest for justice; it is more akin to a process. You are best served by taking charge of the issues between you and your spouse and together agreeing on how your situation can be improved by coming to a stipulated agreement.

Of course, divorce law is complicated. You need the guidance of a trained, well educated, experienced professional to help you find the efficient management of your disputes.

However, doesn’t it make more sense to only hire one such professional and have her work with each of you to arrive at an economic, mutually agreeable resolution?

So if you believe what Judge Stewart advises, that finding the best divorce attorney isn’t a guaranty of the best result, what you should be doing is searching for the best Divorce mediator. A competent divorce mediator will help you emerge from your dissolution with the least pain and the preservation of the most family funds.