When a couple chooses to end a marriage, they must sort through a variety of important financial and emotional issues, such as the division of marital property and spousal support. If there are children involved, they must also address matters of custody, visitation, and child support. One way families can attempt to resolve these issues is through a process known as mediation. In mediation, an impartial third party — the mediator – assists the spouses in reaching an agreement they can both accept. However, considering the nature of divorce, mediation may only be beneficial under certain circumstances. If you are considering divorce or legal separation, it is important to contact an experienced San Diego family law attorney who can guide you through the process with confidence and ease.

In a recent California divorce case, the parties had been married for 16 years and had two children. During the marriage, the wife was a “stay-at-home” mom, and the husband was a doctor and “successful businessman.” After the wife filed for divorce, the couple agreed to resolve their support and property issues through mediation, without the assistance of counsel. The mediation resulted in a signed marital settlement agreement (“MSA”) that provided in part that the husband would pay the wife $10 million to fully satisfy her community interest in the shares of the business, escreen, Inc. The parties signed declarations that both preliminary and final disclosures had been served on the other party in accordance with Family Code provisions.
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Couples who decide to divorce may approach the proceedings in a variety of different ways, depending on the nature of their current relationship and the number of issues to sort through. Mediation is one method that some couples pursue, in an effort to resolve certain matters out of court. In mediation, an impartial third party (the mediator) will help the couple reach an agreement they both find acceptable. The mediator acts as a facilitator and typically has no power to force an agreement on the parties. But, even with mediation, the couple must be aware of legal requirements associated with any agreement that results from those sessions. If you are facing a divorce, it is important to understand your legal rights at every stage of the proceedings. You are encouraged to consult with an experienced family law attorney from the San Diego area.

A recent court decision highlights the importance of being aware of the local laws applicable to divorce and mediation. Here, the couple got married in 1981 and separated in 2004. The wife filed a petition for marital dissolution in 2005. She never served the petition on the husband, nor were any other documents filed with the court. The couple did, however, enter into mediation, which resulted in a proposed stipulated judgment, settling all issues related to marital rights, such as child custody and support, division of property, and spousal support. Among other things, the stipulated judgment (dated June 2006) stated that it constituted a marital settlement agreement and that the court would “supervise the overall enforcement of this Judgment.” Neither party filed the stipulated judgment with the court.

On May 31, 2011, the court dismissed the wife’s divorce petition for lack of prosecution. Just under two weeks later, she filed a second petition for dissolution and moved to have the stipulated judgment entered as a judgment in the dismissed proceedings, and incorporated into a judgment in the current proceedings. The husband opposed the motion. The trial court denied both motions but scheduled a trial to determine the enforceability of the stipulated judgment. During the trial, the husband objected to the admission of the stipulated judgment, arguing that it was protected by the mediation privilege under California Evidence Code, Section 1119. The trial court overruled his objection and held that the stipulated judgment was an enforceable marital settlement agreement. Accordingly, the court entered a judgment on reserved issues, based on the language of the 2006 stipulated judgment. The husband appealed.
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