Online Divorce Mediation in California
Online divorce mediation in California lets you work through the legal and financial decisions from separate homes, cities or states. I meet with both spouses by Zoom, coordinate the financial disclosures, explain the options, prepare the Marital Settlement Agreement and submit the required court paperwork to the appropriate county court.
You do not need to travel to San Diego, and you do not need to sit in the same room. I remain neutral for both spouses throughout the process.
I am Scott Levin – a California family law attorney, a Certified Mediator through Mediate.com and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®. I serve as the neutral for both of you and represent neither of you individually.
Scott Levin, Esq., CDFA®Remote mediation since 2018
What Clients Say
Clients describe Scott’s guidance in mediation and virtual meetings.
★★★★★
“My ex and I collaborated with Scott for our joint divorce, and we couldn't be more grateful for their guidance and professionalism. Divorce is never easy, but Scott helped make the process respectful, fair, and much less stressful than we expected. Scott was detailed…”
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My ex and I collaborated with Scott for our joint divorce, and we couldn't be more grateful for their guidance and professionalism. Divorce is never easy, but Scott helped make the process respectful, fair, and much less stressful than we expected. Scott was detailed and explained everything in clear terms, and made sure we understood the process. His approach was balanced and effective so we could come to agreements without unnecessary conflict. Scott's steady guidance helped us navigate difficult conversations while keeping everything as amicable as possible. I highly recommend this firm to any couple looking for a compassionate, fair, and professional joint divorce lawyer.
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Additional client experiences appear below.
★★★★★
“My fiancé and I hired mediation lawyer Scott Levin to help us with our prenuptial agreement. We chose to work with him as a mediator to create a collaborative, open, and transparent dialogue. Living in Santa Barbara, I was amazed at how easy the…”
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My fiancé and I hired mediation lawyer Scott Levin to help us with our prenuptial agreement. We chose to work with him as a mediator to create a collaborative, open, and transparent dialogue. Living in Santa Barbara, I was amazed at how easy the entire process was--everything was handled virtually via Zoom with simple e-signatures. What could have been a stressful and intimidating experience turned out to be smooth, affordable, and completely stress-free. Highly recommend Scott for anyone seeking a thoughtful and amicable approach to a prenup.
Reviews describe individual client experiences. Services are identified below each review, and results vary.
What does an online divorce mediator do?
An online divorce mediator keeps the process organized while both spouses participate by video. I help you identify the issues, exchange financial information, understand the legal and financial consequences, negotiate decisions and put the agreement in writing.
When a private conversation is useful, I can use a breakout room to speak separately with either spouse while remaining neutral to both.
Virtual divorce mediation can address a parenting plan, property and asset division, and retirement accounts and QDROs. The mediation process explains how those decisions become a written settlement.
Watch: choosing an online divorce mediator
Scott Levin and CDFA® Laurie Itkin discuss choosing a mediator and the role of financial guidance in online divorce mediation.
How online mediation works, step by step
| Step | How it happens remotely |
|---|---|
| Free consultation | 15 minutes by Zoom or phone, ideally with both of you |
| Mediation meetings | Video meetings – Zoom, Google Meet or another platform – with each of you joining from your own location |
| Private conversations | Breakout rooms let me speak with each of you separately when that helps |
| Financial disclosures | I provide the disclosure forms and review them with you. Each spouse completes their disclosures and exchanges the required information and supporting documents. Documents are shared electronically. |
| Your agreement | I draft and revise the marital settlement agreement; you review it on screen together or on your own time |
| Signatures | Most documents can be signed electronically. If your case requires a notarized signature or another signing formality, I explain what is needed and coordinate that step. |
| Court filing | I open the court case and submit the agreed judgment paperwork to your county court |
| Judgment | Approved by a judge – in most cases without either of you going to court |
The remote details, explained
Meeting from separate locations
Each of you joins from wherever you are: your home, your office, another city or another state. We usually meet by Zoom; virtual divorce mediation covers the same decisions we would work through in my conference room. You never need to sit side by side or share a room, and many couples find it easier to stay calm in their own space.
Private meetings when you need them
Most of the work happens with all three of us together. When one of you needs to speak with me privately – to think through an option or raise a concern – I use a breakout room, the online version of stepping into a separate office.
Sharing documents
Bank and retirement statements, tax returns and disclosure forms are shared electronically, so we can all look at the same numbers on screen during a meeting. I'll explain how to send documents at the start. For what to gather and how to label it, see how to prepare financial documents for divorce mediation.
Signing electronically
Most documents can be signed electronically. If your case requires a notarized signature or another signing formality, I explain what is needed and coordinate that step.
Filing with the court
I open the court case and prepare and submit the agreed judgment paperwork to your county court in the way that court accepts. In most cases, the judge approves it without either of you appearing.
Mixing online and in person
Roughly two-thirds of my meetings are by video and one-third in person. If you'd like a meeting face to face at my San Diego office, that's easy to arrange.
Who mediates online with me
One spouse in Los Angeles and the other in Sacramento. A service member stationed away from San Diego while the other parent stays here. A couple who married and raised children in California before one of them moved out of state. A parent who simply cannot take half a day off work to sit in a conference room.
For me these are routine cases, not exceptions.
If you want to understand the full attorney-led process, see our California divorce mediation page.
Online Divorce Mediation Testimonial
Scott Levin helped us resolve our divorce quickly and affordably through both virtual online mediation services and some meetings at his office. As a San Diego couple with busy schedules, the combination and offering of a virtual mediation option was perfect for us. Scott helped change around our Marital settlement agreement several times to fit our needs. The process with Scott was quick and efficient. I would definitely recommend Scott Levin for divorce mediation services.
Highly recommend! – Sarah, Carmel ValleyOnline mediation versus meeting in person
The legal process and substantive decisions are the same whether meetings occur by Zoom or at the San Diego office. Online mediation can be more convenient when spouses live in different cities, have demanding schedules, or prefer not to sit together in the same room.
In-person meetings may be preferable for couples who communicate better face-to-face. Many couples use a combination of online and in-person meetings.
Where mediation is not the right process at all – for example, where there is a history of control or intimidation – I'll tell you so in the consultation and talk through your options, whatever the format.
What does online divorce mediation cost?
Online mediation uses the same fee structure as in-person divorce mediation. The mediation agreement explains the included meetings and services before you begin, including the financial disclosures, mediation meetings, Marital Settlement Agreement and required court paperwork through judgment.
Additional meeting time or outside specialists are discussed in advance and handled under the written agreement.
What you need to mediate online
A device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, a private space, and a way to photograph or scan documents. Nothing to buy and no special software beyond the free Zoom app.
If technology is a real barrier for one of you, say so in the consultation. It is a solvable problem, and it is not a reason to go to court.
Online divorce mediation: your questions answered
What is online divorce mediation?
It is an ordinary California divorce mediation held by video instead of in a conference room. The meetings, document sharing, signatures and court filing all happen remotely; the legal process and the result are the same.
Do we need to be in the same place?
No. Each of you joins from your own location – a different home, city or state. At least one spouse must meet California's residency requirement. If a spouse or your children live outside California, other rules can affect where some issues are decided, so I confirm the appropriate filing and jurisdiction requirements during intake.
Can one of us join from out of state or overseas?
Yes, including while deployed or living abroad. At least one spouse must meet California's residency requirement (six months in the state and three months in the county of filing). Residency alone doesn't settle every question when a spouse or children live elsewhere, so I confirm the appropriate filing and jurisdiction requirements during intake. Meetings are scheduled with both time zones in mind.
What technology do we need?
A device with a camera and microphone, a stable internet connection, a private space and a way to photograph or scan documents. Meetings run on Zoom, Google Meet or another platform that works for both of you.
Do we both have to be on camera?
I ask for cameras on, because seeing each other helps the conversation. If that is genuinely difficult for one of you, tell me and we'll work out an arrangement.
Can I speak with the mediator privately?
Yes. When it helps, I use breakout rooms to talk with each of you separately, then bring you back together. I remain neutral in private conversations, just as in joint ones.
How do we share financial documents?
Electronically. I provide the disclosure forms and review them with you. Each spouse completes their disclosures and exchanges the required information and supporting documents.
Is online mediation secure and confidential?
Meetings are held on a secure video platform, and mediation confidentiality under California Evidence Code sections 1115–1128 applies exactly as it does in person.
How do we sign the agreement?
Most documents can be signed electronically. If your case requires a notarized signature or another signing formality, I explain what is needed and coordinate that step.
Is an online mediated divorce legally binding?
Yes. The format changes nothing about the legal effect. Your marital settlement agreement binds you both once signed – electronically, for most documents – and it becomes a court order when a judge signs the judgment.
How is our case filed if we never come to the office?
I open the court case and prepare and submit the agreed judgment paperwork to your county court in the way that court accepts. In most cases, you don't need to take anything to the courthouse yourselves.
Will we ever have to go to court?
In most cases, no. The judge approves the agreed judgment without either of you appearing.
Can we mix online and in-person meetings?
Yes, and plenty of couples do – most meetings by video and one or two at my San Diego office when face to face feels better.
Can we mediate online if we have children?
Yes. Parenting plans are built the same way remotely, and where the conversation needs more support, my co-mediator Mary Levin, a Co-Parenting Specialist®, joins those sessions.
What if one of us isn't comfortable with technology?
Say so in the consultation. A short practice call before the first meeting usually solves it.
Also serving San Diego County in person
My office is at 9820 Willow Creek Road, Suite 410, San Diego, CA 92131 – right off the Carroll Canyon exit on I-15, about three minutes from Miramar, twelve from UTC and fifteen from Clairemont, with ample parking. Couples in San Diego County who prefer to meet face to face are welcome, and many do part of their mediation here and part online.
Related services
Start with a free consultation
A free 15-minute call by Zoom or phone. Tell me where each of you lives, and I'll explain how the remote process would work for you.
Prefer to send a message? Contact us
San Diego, CA 92131