San Mateo Private Judge & Special Master

When it comes to family law cases, disputes can be emotionally charged and have lasting impacts on those involved. This can be especially true in high-conflict situations, such as hostile divorces. Working with a private judge or a special master could provide several advantages for resolving family law cases. Discover why you can trust TDC Family Law for San Mateo private judge & special master legal services.

Tracy Duell-Cazes of TDC Family Law is dedicated to helping families in San Mateo and the surrounding areas when they face difficult legal situations. With more than 30 years of experience in family law, you can trust TDC Family Law for their knowledge of the California legal system. TDC Family Law can review your case and provide legal guidance based on your budget and your individual family law needs.

What Is a Private Judge?

In California, a private judge is a qualified legal professional who can make decisions in the resolution of civil legal disputes. Private judges are not government employees but instead are hired by individuals to help them resolve civil legal conflicts. As opposed to making rulings in court, a private judge will work with parties involved in civil disputes, such as family law disputes, outside of court. The decisions a private judge makes are legally binding in most cases.

What Is a Special Master?

A special master in California is a court-appointed attorney who can make decisions on behalf of the court. Like a private judge, a special master can make legal decisions outside of court for individuals involved in civil disputes. Both private judges and special masters serve as neutral third parties in family law cases. The opposing individuals will present their side of the case to the private judge or special master, who will then decide the outcome of the case.

Private Judges and Special Masters vs. Mediators

Mediators, private judges, and special masters are all different types of legal professionals who can help individuals resolve civil disputes outside of court. The main difference between a special master or private judge and a mediator is that a mediator helps individuals negotiate and make decisions about the outcome of their case on their own. A special master or private judge is responsible for making decisions about the outcome of a case according to California law.

Benefits of Working With a Private Judge or Special Master

There are a range of potential advantages when it comes to hiring a private judge or special master to resolve your family law case in California. Special masters and private judges can be especially helpful in resolving highly contentious disputes, such as divorce cases in which one or both parties have animosity toward the other party. Benefits of working with a private judge or a special master from TDC Family Law can include:

• Time savings. The court system in California is not always expeditious. Resolving your family law dispute outside of court with help from a private judge or special master could be much faster than courtroom litigation. TDC Family Law understands that those involved in family law cases typically want to come to a resolution as quickly as possible, so we work with efficiency in mind.
• Cost savings. When parties involved in a family law dispute hire individual attorneys to represent their respective sides of the case, the overall cost of resolving the dispute goes up. Working with a private judge or special master can be a much more cost-effective option. TDC Family Law provides budget-minded representation and can provide legal recommendations according to your financial bandwidth.
• Peace of mind. Going to court for a family law case can be a stressful and drawn-out process. Resolving your family law dispute outside of court with help from a private judge or special master from TDC Family Law provides an alternative avenue to determining the outcome of your case that can be less stressful.
• Privacy. For some people, resolving a family law case in court can feel embarrassing or shameful. When cases involve details about children, privacy can be even more of a concern. Hiring a special master or private judge offers more privacy by helping you resolve your case outside of the courtroom. TDC Family Law works with respect and sensitivity for our clients.

In order to work with a special master or private judge to help you resolve your family law dispute, both parties involved must agree to this option and hire the special master or private judge mutually. Depending on the circumstances of the case, one or both parties may be responsible for the financial aspect of hiring a special master or private judge. TDC Family Law can review your case details and recommend all possible courses of legal action per your budget.

Can a Special Master or Private Judge Help in a Hostile Divorce?

If the circumstances of your divorce have become hostile, working with an experienced special master or private judge could be a good option for coming to a peaceful resolution. Special masters and private judges are legal professionals who can help you limit the amount of interaction you have with your hostile estranged spouse. Plus, resolving your case outside of court is often much quicker than settling in court, allowing both parties to move on faster.

TDC Family Law has experience serving individuals involved in a wide range of divorce cases. If your divorce has become hostile, Tracy Duell-Cazes of TDC Family Law can help. She can review your case details and keep an open line of communication with you to understand the circumstances of your divorce. Trust TDC Family Law to provide legal guidance and see if working with a private judge or special master is right for your hostile divorce case in San Mateo area.

Contact TDC Family Law for a Consultation

Tracy Duell-Cazes of TDC Family Law is dedicated to serving clients involved in family law cases in San Mateo County. Whether you’re facing a divorce or need other family law support, you can trust TDC Family Law to recommend appropriate options for resolving your dispute with help from a private judge or special master. Contact TDC Family Law to request a consultation.