San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa, Sonoma, Solano, Alameda, San Mateo Counties.
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| Melanie Nathan |
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Melanie Nathan B.A. LL.B
Family Law:
Business disputes:
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Real Estate
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Partnerships
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Corporate/ buy-sell
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Employer/ employee
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Restructuring
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Mergers/acquisitions
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Transitions
The Role of The Mediator:
Our California Divorce Mediators will support your family through the entire separation and divorce process. The Mediators are experienced in California divorce law.
Divorce can be overwhelming and an enormous emotional strain on the family and extended family, alike. This difficult time is exacerbated by the complexities of dividing community property, from the toaster to the Picasso, and especially awkward where there are family-owned businesses.
The role of the mediator is to be neutral. To assist the parties to:
1. Identify the issues;
2. Establish goals and agenda;
3. Work on transition and interim issues first;
4. Provide a forum for safe and effective discussion;
5. Provide document assistance, where necessary and draft memo of understanding/agreements;
6. Plan for division of assets and manage communications between parties through actual dividing process;
7. Mediate until settlement is reached on all issues, including: property division, support, custody and parenting.
8. Draft Marital Settlement Agreement;
9. Assist with in pro per documents for stipulations and court judgment, if asked;
10.Converse with reviewing attorneys to negotiate changes and amendments.
Not to reprsent either party. However the mediator can be of further assistance by providing neutral information and resources and even full management of all your divorce needs. Not many mediators take on the latter role, and it is our belief that short of this full service, you are often alone and scrambling, not knowing where to go or what to do!
It is often a good idea to have a consulting and reviewing attorney on hand. We also offer assistance in finding the right attorneys, by providing materials showing guidelines and choices.
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| Woodacre Office |
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| Marin County Office |
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The Mediator's role is to act as a neutral facilitator of discussions to resolve disputes, leading to resolution of your divorce, business and personal property issues. At Private Courts we work to minimize conflict during your separation and divorce and start out by facilitating transitional arrangements between the Participants. We do not make decisions for you, but rather serve as neutrals to guide the process and mediate your settlement. We will assist in your preparation for mediation by providing forms and lists allowing for full and complete disclosure. You remain in complete control. You may choose different levels of participation as wells as different levels of commitment. The choices are always yours.
You are provided with a "Mediation and Fee Agreement" in advance; all mediation and documentation is held to the strictest standard of confidentiality and privacy. We work with divorcing parties represented by attorneys, as well as those who are not. We provide a forum for full disclosure. This is an essential precursor to a valid “Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) and a process that can costs thousands of dollars in a litigated environment.
In our mediation process we encourage you to seek separate counsel and legal advice from your own California attorney, who can represent you on a consulting basis and who is thus subjective to your cause and needs. The idea is to fully understand your options and empower your negotiations.
We invite you to call us first so we can assist you with referrals to "mediation friendly" attorneys. Mediation is always better served and settlement expedited when both parties possess accurate information. To help you ascertain your legal position, we will provide you with resources to further educate yourself or to obtain the separate advice you may need.
Melanie Nathan and other Mediators at Private Courts will provide a draft Marital Settlement Agreement and/or any necessary addendums for review by your attorneys. All agreements are non-binding until both parties have signed their acceptance.
Equitable resolution will remain within your absolute control and be cost-effective. Participants are free to end the mediation process at any time. We offer a comfortable and emotionally safe environment in which to explore not only the issues, but also the "what ifs." We encourage you to call us and see how our unique method can be of service to you. Our child advocacy approach will take care of the best interests of the children.
We also serve the LGBT and Gay community with custody, support and domestic partnership mediation in California. Custody and Child Support: This is an aspect of the divorce process that is of paramount importance.
Mediation provides a forum to support Parent's through their differences as it relates to the many aspects of their children's lives. Private Courts and all Mediators follow a very strict child advocacy protocol, where the interests of the children are always placed at the fore. Children benefit from the resolution of conflict. They are harmed by escalating conflict. Do not allow children to be the pawns in your divorce. They deserve their childhood and the only people to protect them are their parents. Parents should never use custody as tool to get back at or alter support obligations. Parents should always work to place the interests of their children first. We offer mediation services to assist in this crucial aspect of your process and where necessary are able to make excellent and time tested referrals.
If all you would like is a referral, we would be happy to assist at 415. 464.9918.
Divorce Process: Call us and we will take time on the phone to explain how we work.
Our offices are conveniently located in Larkspur Landing Circle, serving all of the Bay area of California, including, San Francisco, Marin County, Sonoma and the East Bay.
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