DIY + Coaching Support

DIY Divorce with a Guide by Your Side

This path is for people who want to keep costs low and stay in control — but don’t want to figure everything out alone. You still use the same DIY tools and portal, but you also get focused coaching sessions to help you avoid mistakes, lower conflict, and keep your case moving.

Is DIY + Coaching Right for You?

Great fit if you:

  • Have little or no money for full attorney representation.
  • Can do most of the legwork yourself, but want guidance at key points.
  • Feel overwhelmed by forms, deadlines, or “what to do first.”
  • Have a spouse who is unsure, skeptical, or resistant — but you still want to keep things as calm and fair as possible.

Coaching is especially helpful when:

  • You’re dealing with a high-conflict or emotionally reactive spouse.
  • You’re worried about how to communicate without making things worse.
  • You want help turning “raw feelings” into calm, clear written proposals.
  • You need someone neutral to reality-check whether your plan is realistic.

Coaching does not replace legal advice — it helps you prepare, plan, and communicate more effectively.

How the DIY + Coaching Path Works

You still use the same DIY Divorce Resource Center as other clients — but you add targeted support sessions at the moments when guidance matters most.

  1. Step 1 – Work through the DIY tools
    Inside your client portal, you complete the checklists, parenting tools, and financial organizers at your own pace.
  2. Step 2 – Book a focused coaching session
    When you get stuck (forms, parenting plan, communication, offers, etc.), you schedule a 60-minute call or Zoom to walk through your questions and next steps.
  3. Step 3 – Use coaching to refine your plan
    We use your DIY worksheets and binder summary to clean up language, prioritize issues, and prepare you for mediation, negotiation, or filing — without taking over your case.
  4. Step 4 – Repeat only as needed
    You only book sessions when they’re useful. Some people need one or two; others prefer more regular check-ins.

What We Can Work On Together

Forms & Paperwork (Educational Support)

  • Clarifying which forms you may need for your situation (Petition, Response, disclosures, judgment packet).
  • Helping you understand what a question is asking in plain English.
  • Pointing you toward official instructions and self-help resources.
  • Reviewing your draft entries for clarity and completeness (not legal advice).

Parenting & Communication

  • Using the Co-Parenting Wizard and parenting plan tools inside your portal.
  • Drafting calm, child-focused language for your parenting proposals.
  • Creating boundaries around hostile texts, emails, or calls.
  • Planning how to present ideas in mediation or conversation with your spouse.

Money, Support & Realistic Options

  • Walking through the educational calculators in your DIY portal.
  • Discussing what seems realistic for both households (not official guideline support).
  • Exploring tradeoffs: home vs. retirement, debt splits, vehicles, etc.
  • Preparing written offers or counter-offers you can present in mediation.

Can I Use Coaching If My Spouse Won’t Participate?

Yes. Many people use DIY + Coaching on their own when the other person is not willing, not ready, or not emotionally stable enough to work together. In that case, coaching focuses on:

  • Keeping you grounded and organized.
  • Helping you respond (or choose not to respond) to triggering messages.
  • Preparing realistic proposals you can present through court, mediation, or negotiation.
  • Protecting your energy so you’re not pulled into constant arguments.

Your spouse never has to join a session for you to benefit from coaching.

What a Typical Coaching Session Looks Like

  1. Before the session: You fill out a short intake form and (optionally) attach your DIY worksheets or binder summary.
  2. During the session (about 60 minutes): We review your biggest concerns, go over your tools and notes, and outline the next 2–3 concrete steps so you leave with a clear action plan.
  3. After the session: You continue working in your DIY portal, updating your parenting plan, offers, or forms based on what we discussed.

Ready to Add Coaching to Your DIY Path?

If you’re already using the DIY Divorce Resource Center, coaching is the next layer of support — not another layer of confusion. We use the tools you already have, so your sessions are focused, efficient, and practical.

Mediation & Mitigation Solutions is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Coaching focuses on education, organization, communication skills, and planning. For legal advice, consult a licensed California attorney.