Scott Levin, Esq., CDFA® · San Diego and California by Zoom
San Diego Family Law Attorney for Mediation and Consulting
Get clear about your options. Work toward an agreement you understand.
Whether you are facing a divorce, a parenting disagreement or a difficult financial decision, Scott Levin helps you understand what needs to be resolved and how to move forward.
Work together with Scott as your neutral mediator, or hire him individually as a consulting attorney for advice about your own situation.
California attorney since 2004 · 2,500+ mediations · Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®
Legal knowledge, financial analysis and practical negotiation.
Understand your options
See how the legal rules and financial consequences apply to the decisions in front of you.
Work through the disagreement
Compare practical proposals for your home, support and parenting arrangements.
Put the details into writing
Connect the decisions you reach with clear settlement terms and the agreed court paperwork.
“Scott will help guide you from the initial steps to the very end.” — Suzanne B., Google review
“He worked through the numbers, and coordinated the options for settlement.” — Nica D. · Financial clarity · Google review · Read the full review ↓
Choose the right kind of help
Are you working toward an agreement together, or looking for advice just for you?
The distinction matters. In mediation, Scott helps both spouses as a neutral. In individual consulting, he advises one person. Those are separate roles.
For both spouses
Neutral divorce mediation
You do not need to agree on everything before beginning. Scott helps both of you understand the issues, explore proposals and negotiate a settlement.
- Discuss property, support and parenting decisions.
- Compare options using the same financial information.
- Have Scott draft your settlement and prepare and submit the agreed court paperwork.
Scott represents neither spouse in mediation.
Explore divorce mediation →For one spouse
Your own consulting attorney
You may want a private explanation of your rights, a second opinion about a proposal, or help preparing for a mediation session.
- Review a proposed settlement before signing.
- Understand the assumptions behind property and support proposals.
- Prepare questions, priorities and possible responses before you negotiate.
Scott advises you within the agreed scope.
Explore individual consulting →Scott does not serve as both the couple’s neutral mediator and one spouse’s consulting attorney in the same matter. His practice focuses on resolving family law matters outside contested court proceedings.
Divorce mediation follows the agreed flat-fee scope. Individual consulting is billed hourly within a separate engagement.
What clients describe
Clearer decisions about the things that matter.
These excerpts describe clients’ experiences working with Scott in mediation.
★★★★★
“He helped us agree on visitation, holidays, schedules, school, medical etc for our children.”
Read full review
Scott has helped me navigate through a very hard time in my life. He was professional in every aspect. He helped us agree on visitation, holidays, schedules, school, medical etc for our children. He came up with great ways for us to communicate regarding the children. It is defiientl worth your time, money and mental health to use Scott as a mediator.
Read 1 More Client Review
Additional client experiences appear below.
★★★★★
“Scott helped organize the daunting financial information associated with a divorce. He worked through the numbers, and coordinated the options for settlement.”
Read full review
Scott helped organize the daunting financial information associated with a divorce. He worked through the numbers, and coordinated the options for settlement. He was helpful in bringing the different pieces together and putting the proposed terms into a format that was easier to review.
Have your financial records, and supporting information organized, a clear understanding of what you want the outcome to look like, then allow Scott to work his magic.
Reviews describe individual clients’ experiences. Every family’s situation is different, and results vary.
Practical decisions deserve practical help
Start with the issue that is keeping you stuck.
Your home and finances
Can one of us keep the house? What happens to the retirement accounts or stock?
Scott helps you compare buyouts, asset trades and other proposals, taking account of taxes, available cash and what each household will need.
Property and asset division →Divorce Financial Consulting (CDFA®) →
Child and spousal support
What can one household afford to pay, and what does the other need?
Scott helps you understand the calculations, examine income assumptions and explore terms that address variable compensation and future changes.
Child support mediation →Spousal support mediation →
Parenting arrangements
We agree the children come first. How do we make the plan work?
Build clear arrangements for schedules, holidays, school decisions, travel and communication. Mary Levin, Co-Parenting Specialist®, brings focused parenting expertise.
Parenting plan mediation →Co-mediation with Scott and Mary →
These are examples of decisions addressed in mediation and consulting. The appropriate approach depends on your circumstances and the role in which you engage Scott.
When you choose divorce mediation
One connected process, from the first decisions through judgment.
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Understand the situation
Discuss your goals and identify the legal, financial and parenting issues that need attention.
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Build the shared picture
Complete and exchange required disclosures with guidance, and gather the information needed to evaluate options.
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Negotiate and document
Work through proposals, then review the settlement agreement Scott drafts to reflect the decisions you reach.
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Complete the court paperwork
Scott prepares and submits the agreed filings and follows through on the judgment submission. The court reviews and approves the judgment.
The person helping you work through it
Legal knowledge, financial understanding and experience at the mediation table.
Scott Levin became a California attorney in 2004. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law and a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst®, he has conducted more than 2,500 mediations and has taught community property law to law students.
That combination helps connect a proposed settlement with everyday questions: where you will live, how your budget will work and how the agreement will be carried out.
Meet Scott Levin →Questions about choosing the right kind of help
Will Scott represent me against my spouse in court?
Scott’s practice focuses on out-of-court resolution. In mediation, he is neutral and represents neither spouse. In individual consulting, he advises one person within a defined scope. If you need an attorney to conduct contested court proceedings, you will need litigation counsel.
Do we need to agree before starting mediation?
No. Working through disagreements is the purpose of mediation. Both spouses need to be willing to participate and share financial information honestly. A consultation can help you assess whether this approach fits your situation.
Can I get advice from my own lawyer during mediation?
Yes. Either spouse may consult an independent attorney before, during or after mediation, including for advice before signing an agreement. Scott’s neutrality in mediation does not replace independent advice for either spouse.
Can Scott review an agreement that has already been drafted?
Yes. Through individual consulting, Scott can review a proposed agreement, explain provisions and help you prepare questions or proposed changes. He can do this when he is not serving as the neutral mediator in the same matter.
Can we work together by Zoom?
Yes. Scott works with clients in San Diego and throughout California by Zoom. In-person meetings are also available in San Diego.
Start with what you need help deciding.
Tell us what is happening and the decision you are facing. You do not need a completed settlement or every document organized before the first conversation.
Or send us a message below.