The importance of divorce mediation California was easily seen this week when Arnold Schwarzenegger filed new court papers in his high-profile divorce from Kennedy heiress and television news personality Maria Shriver.  Schwarzenegger's initial court filings had indicated a complete unwillingness to make any alimony payments to his estranged wife.  Most observers criticized the former California governor for this penny-pinching approach and hoped he would treat his spouse more equitably.

Divorce Mediation in California Encourages a "Meeting of the Minds"

Schwarzenegger's newly filed court papers are considered "more generous;" most analysts regard them as a more reasonable response to the divorce.  The irony is that multiple court filings such as these can be avoided through the use of divorce mediation, which encourages the parties to negotiate and come to a reasonable settlement.  Mediation is also a private matter, which means that initial proposals and subsequent revisions are not a matter of public record for the press to analyze and critique.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver had no prenuptial agreement.  According to California law, their assets in a divorce could conceivably be split down the middle.  The estate in question is valued in excess of $400 million.  The couple, who had been wed for 25 years, is expected to settle their divorce out of court.