Gary B. Wells, Attorney at Law

559-517-7446

I am an experienced family law and litigation attorney providing mediation services to couples going through a divorce or separation to resolve their issues outside of court.

After more than two decades of working as an attorney, I have learned that the courtroom is not the best place for a divorcing couple.  The best alternative is to provide an opportunity for the couple to work with a mediator to reduce conflict, clarify issues, consider alternatives, and reach a mutually beneficial agreement while preserving the couple's assets.

Mediation is a process for handling issues in which the parties involved voluntarily meet with a trained, impartial mediator, to work together to resolve these issues and develop a mutually acceptable, durable, and legally enforceable agreement.  Mediation sessions are informal and conducted in a confidential, private setting.  

I began my professional career in 1986 as a certified public accountant where I developed a solid understanding of business, financial, and tax concerns. In 1991 I began practicing law in Fresno, California.  After several years of practice in family law and other litigation, I recognized that the adversarial nature of the legal system was inappropriate for most couples.  More often than not, legal battles resulted in anger and hurt, financial devastation, and random results with which nobody was happy. These dysfunctions were especially hard on couples going through a divorce.

In response to the shortcomings of litigation, I turned to the practice of mediation to help couples contemplating divorce. Through mediation, most couples are better able to avoid costly legal battles, maintain a civil relationship, and get through the process more quickly.  Mediation is a collaborative process that aims to achieve a "win-win" result for both parties."  

Through the mediation process, I works with couples to:

• Explore and understand their options within the confines of California law while recognizing the greater flexibility they have by working together.

• Develop a mutually-agreed settlement that is legally-enforceable, works best for them because it considers their individual circumstances, and is less likely to require future litigation.

• Prepare and file the necessary legal documents so they have no need to enter the courthouse.

• Develop insight and cultivate skills to avoid future contention and legal procedures with the other party.

• Maintain greater privacy because the mediation process occurs in private and avoids public court hearings.

• Complete the legal process more efficiently and in much less time, thus shortening the emotional strains of prolonged litigation.

• Save significant amounts of money and preserve the couple's assets by avoiding the costs of litigation.