09/08/2026
Before you negotiate your divorce settlement, you need to know what you’re actually negotiating.
In our first mediation session, we help both spouses build a clear picture of the family finances—assets, debts, retirement accounts, real estate, and other financial issues that need to be addressed. Then we explain the California-law baseline so each person can better understand their rights, obligations, and settlement options.
You don’t need an MBA or years of financial experience to understand your divorce finances. We use a visual software program we developed to make the financial picture easier for both spouses to see and understand—even if one person has traditionally handled all of the family finances.
Clarity first. Then negotiation.
Once you understand the size of the financial “pie,” the legal baseline for dividing it, and the different ways a settlement could be structured, you can negotiate from a place of knowledge rather than guesswork.
That is what we work to create in mediation: a calm, supportive environment where both spouses can ask questions, understand the numbers, and work toward a fair and informed agreement—without fighting it out in court.
Scott Levin
Divorce Mediator · Family Law Attorney · CDFA®
Founder, San Diego Divorce Mediation & Family Law
📞 858-293-1410
🌐 sandiegofamilylawyer.net
Helping California couples reach informed agreements through mediation—without court.
