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Helene L. Taylor

Soul-Centered California Divorce Consulting Attorney & Mediator

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Choosing the best process for resolving issues in your divorce

Helene

There are at least four ways to resolve issues during divorce, which includes kitchen table negotiations, mediation, collaborative divorce and litigation.

Kitchen table negotiations are still fairly common and enable parties to quickly wrap up their divorces on their own terms. The costs of negotiating a settlement are usually limited to court costs ($395 appearance cost per party in California), which makes it a good choice if you and your spouse can communicate relatively well.

In divorce mediation a neutral mediator is hired by the parties to help them work through their divorce issues and voluntarily reach a mutually agreeable settlement. This process allows couples to maintain control over the outcome of their cases instead of placing their futures in the hands of others.

A mediators’ fees are usually shared equally or paid out of a joint account. Mediation is my preferred and most commonly referred method of resolution because of it allows you to stay in control of the outcome of your case, keep your costs down, enlist the services of a skilled mediator and ideally, complete the divorce process quickly. The success of mediation is often dependent on the skill set of the mediator, which makes the selection process important.

Collaborative Divorce is a process that uses a multidisciplinary team including lawyers, counselors, financial specialists and child specialists to facilitate a divorce settlement.

All team members are committed to resolving the divorce without going to court and will be disqualified from working on the case if either or both parties decide to go to court.

Each party pays their own attorney and coach and one-half of the financial and/or child specialists fees. If a complete collaborative divorce team is used the process can be expensive and if the collaborative process fails, additional costs of litigation can make this the most expensive option.

If civility and preserving your long term relationship with your soon to be ex are top priorities, using the collaborative divorce process is a good option to consider.

Lastly, there is the traditional path of most resistance, also known as litigation. Litigation essentially means going to court and battling it out. It is usually the most expensive way to resolve a divorce and can require trial lawyers, judges, experts and witnesses.

Because court calendars are back logged, divorces going to trial can stagnate and take years to resolve. But going to trial may be your best choice if your spouse is unwilling to compromise and a judge is needed to resolve contested issues. While litigation is an option that has its value, it is often a choice of last resort.

If you would like my help choosing a dispute resolution process or you’re having trouble with one you already selected, please schedule a consulting session below to see how I may be of service.

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Helene L Taylor

Helene L. Taylor, Author, Attorney, Activist for Peace

You’re probably here for three reasons: You’re getting divorced, and you need to know how to navigate the legal process and find your way back to yourself. Your soul-centered journey won’t be easy, but it isn’t impossible. How do I know?

I’m Helene L. Taylor. I divorced twice in my twenties peacefully without lawyers. I’m also a former San Francisco family law trial attorney who has, for 27 years, worked with the most formidable divorce attorneys, mediators, experts, and judges in Hawaii and California. I’ve helped nearly a thousand soul-centered people mediate, litigate, and resolve contentious complex divorces in  Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, OC, and beyond. Many of my former clients are now friends who live or are on the way to living vital sustainable lives. I want the same for you.  I’m here to help you find and take the next step.  Speak to Me.

CLIENT PRAISE

"Helene understands human behavior, and has a gift for deescalating conflict. I felt safe with Helene representing me during a complicated divorce. We've been friends ever since my divorce sixteen years ago." ~Toni Wroolie, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Stanford University Medicine

"When I realized that I was getting a divorce I knew I needed to find a guide. She’d need to be smart, soulful, kind, and know her way around the legal system like nobody’s business. I loved working with Helene because she covered all of those bases beautifully, and she made it possible for me to move through my divorce with peace of mind and confidence" ~Laurie Wagner, 27powers.org

"Helene gently challenged me to consider which outcome would be best for my daughter and I, and gave me the courage and consistency I needed to pursue it successfully. I learned so much about myself as a result. Helene's is a compassionate and strategic approach. On a personal level, Helene is exceptionally positive and inspiring. I feel blessed to have received Helene's help through a challenging divorce during the pandemic." ~NC, Mother, Los Angeles Small Business Owner
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“May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses—the children, the aged, the unprotected—be guarded by beneficent celestials.”

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.”