Mediation
Sharon serves as a neutral facilitator helping both parties work through the issues together.
Resource
Collaborative divorce vs. mediation: understanding the difference.
Both collaborative divorce and mediation are settlement-focused alternatives to a court-driven process, but they are not interchangeable. The clearest distinction is the role Sharon plays and the kind of support each process provides.
Collaborative divorce
Each side has counsel in a settlement-focused process designed to resolve issues outside court.
Consulting support
Separate from both, consulting attorney services can provide advice or review outside or alongside another process.
Mediation
A neutral process built around guided discussion and agreement.
In mediation, Sharon does not represent one side against the other. Her role is to structure the discussion, identify the issues that need to be resolved, and help the parties work toward informed decisions about parenting, support, property, and settlement terms.
Mediation is often a good fit when both parties want a more direct, private process and are prepared to work through the issues with neutral guidance. It can be especially useful when the parties want help staying organized and focused on solutions.
Collaborative Divorce
A settlement process where each side still has counsel.
In collaborative divorce, each person has an attorney. The process remains focused on settlement, but the clients still have dedicated legal representation throughout the negotiations. That can be a strong fit when both people want to stay out of court while also wanting counsel directly at their side during the process.
Collaborative divorce can work well when the issues are complex, when legal advice will be needed throughout the discussions, or when both parties want the structure of a team-based process without shifting into litigation.
How to Decide
Questions that often help clarify which process fits.
- Do you want Sharon to serve as a neutral or as counsel?
- Would each side benefit from having dedicated legal representation throughout the settlement process?
- Are you primarily looking for structured discussion, or for a counsel-led negotiation framework?
- Do you need separate consulting advice before choosing between the two?
For some families, the right first step is a consultation focused on the process decision itself. That conversation can help clarify what kind of support will be most useful before the larger issues are addressed.
Related Resource
What a consulting attorney does in family law
See when separate advice, strategy, or document review may help before or during another process.
Read the resourceRelated Resource
Divorce mediation in California
Review the goals and typical structure of mediation in more detail.
Explore mediationRequest a Consultation
Need help deciding between mediation and collaborative divorce?
Request a consultation to discuss the issues involved and the kind of support that may fit your situation best.