Private Mediation and Private Judge Services
Our Service
Victor Castro also provides private judge and mediation services in Family Law matters. His over 40 years of experience and knowledge in Family Law matters, including volunteering as a Judge Pro Tem for the Superior Court in Santa Clara County, is a valuable resource in guiding litigants toward resolution of their issues. Mediation and private judge services can greatly reduce the time it takes to address and resolve issues.
FAQ’s
Mediation is a process where the parties to a legal action (including Family Law) meet with a neutral third person to present their facts, issues and position on the issues. The mediator’s role is to assist the parties, based on the mediator’ knowledge and experience, in reaching an agreement without the need of having to litigate the matter in Court. The mediator will write up the agreement for the parties to sign and submit it to the Judge to who the case was assigned, for the Judge’s signature. Private mediation differs from Court provided mediation services in that the Court provided mediation services are free of charge. In Santa Clara County, Court mediation services are arranged through the office of the Family Court Settlement Officer.
A private judge is an attorney who has been authorized by the Court to manage and hear the case and issue orders just as a Judge of the Superior Court. In order to serve as a private judge, the attorney must meet certain minimum continuing legal education requirements and training.
Both parties have to agree to hire the private mediator or the private judge.
Each mediator or private judge sets his/her own fee schedule. Victor Castro’s fee is $450.00 per hour with a three-hour minimum. The fees are billed in increments of 1/10 of an hour, which is every six minutes.