As a divorce attorney and mediator, I always recommend that my mediation clients have their settlement documents reviewed by California divorce lawyer with a solid background in child support, child custody, spousal support and California community property.
If you are in mediation, it is important that you be careful in selecting your attorney for review of the settlement papers. A good settlement attorney will advise you on whether your documents will have their intended legal effect, i.e., did you get what you bargained for in mediation?
Watch out for a aggressive attorneys whose style or experience is mostly in litigation. Often, such attorneys have a litigator’s view of the world, and will it pick your agreements to the point of causing the breakdown. Also, you should understand that the attorney has a built-in conflict of interest. Bringing in a litigated case could benefit that attorney or firm to the tune of $50,000, $100,000 or even more. When weighed against the possibility of earning $300-$400 for your consultation, some attorneys will try to sell you litigation.
It is therefore critical that you choose an attorney to review your documents who is friendly to the mediation process.
For the Hemet/Marietta/Riverside area, I recommend:
Patricia a Duncan, Esq.
24641 Washington Ave.
Marietta CA 92562
(951) 674–2188
For Carlsbad/North San Diego County:
Richard Hyatt, CLS-F
7220 Avenida Encinas, Suite 130
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 438-3088
Meredith Brown
Brown & Brown
4370 La Jolla Villiage Drive, Suite 230
San Diego, CA 92122
(858) 450-5035
Lisa Zonder
6120 Paseo Del Norte, Suite F-2
Carlsbad, CA 92011
(760) 438-3383
Delene St. John
3160 Lionshead Avenue, Suite 1
Carlsbad, CA 92010
(760) 477-8586
Anastasia (Stacey) Ganatsios
Law Offices of Gregory L. Laurence
380 South Melrose Drive
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 201-9970
Robin DeVito, CLS-F
1015 Chestnut Avenue, Suite C-2
Carlsbad, CA 92009
(760) 720-9890
South San Diego County:
Shawn E. Weber
1202 Kettner Blvd. Suite 6000
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 234-2121
Bruce Beals, CLS-F
550 West B Street, Suite 370
San Diego, CA 92101
Bruce (619) 231-6811
Jim Clark, CLS-F
1331 India Street,
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-2007
Frank X. Nageotte
2366 Front Street
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-0590
Hildy Fentin, CLS-F
Stocks & Fentin
Comerica Bank Building
600 B Street, Suite 2050
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 231-2025
