CHAMBER OF
The Superior Court
FAMILY LAW DEPARTMENT
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90012
Dear Petitioner or Respondent:
You have a Family Law case in our court. During this time in your life,
you have a number of decisions to make about your future and perhaps the future of your children. I would like you to know
that our court would like to help make this process as easy as possible for you and your family.
You may have a dispute with your spouse regarding where your children will
live, what support will be provided and how you will divide your property. You have the right to have a court hearing and
have a judicial officer decide these matters for you, which may be the most appropriate way to proceed, especially if you
feel threatened by or fearful of your spouse.
However, going to court is not the only way to resolve family law
disputes. Some other ways include having attorneys negotiate directly, having a neutral third party help both sides negotiate
a solution (mediation) or using a method such as collaborative law. These other ways may help people find solutions that are
mutually acceptable and may be preferable for several reasons: 1) You will directly participate in finding solutions; 2) You
probably will be able to resolve your dispute sooner; 3) It may be much less expensive; 4) You may end the process with a
better relationship with your former spouse; and 5) You will likely find it less stressful than court hearings. You can speak
with your attorney, if you have one, about all of these methods of resolving your case so the two of you can decide which
method may be best for you.
It is to your benefit to consider opportunities to reduce conflict
and reduce expenses incurred in the Family Law process. I recommend that you focus on what is most important. Many people
spend time, effort and money attempting to obtain satisfaction by prolonging the dispute with the other party, but this does
not guarantee either party will be fully satisfied with the outcome.
If you have children, you must be particularly careful in choosing how to
proceed. Everything you can do to avoid involving them in the dispute or engaging in conflict concerning them will benefit
them and you. Your agreement does not need to be perfect. It does need to be acceptable to both of you. For the mediation
of disputes regarding your child(ren) and how they will spend time with each parent after the divorce, the court offers a
free mediation service through Family Court Services. To make an appointment, call (213) 974-5524.
Please save this letter. Please read it several times during the dissolution
process.
Sincerely,
AVIVA K. BOBB, Supervising Judge
Family Law Departments
