What is Mediation?
“The Supreme Court of Florida established “Family Mediation” to allow the public to better control the outcome and the cost of their divorce or any other family law dispute. A licensed “mediator” helps both parties voluntarily reach an agreement on all issues and guides both through the entire divorce process. More as a guide or coach rather than as a gladiator fighting to defeat your spouse and their lawyer.
. See our reviews Divorce mediation may be the best way to obtain your divorce. I am a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law mediator since 1992 and have successfully helped over 2,000 couples in North Florida obtain their divorce inexpensively and with their mutual satisfaction. If you do not need mediation I am a licensed Florida attorney since 1989 who can assist you with the paperwork without charging any retainer but at a low hourly rate of $175 per person.
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Why Complete Your Divorce Settlement With Mediation?
Cost
The "neutral" mediator usually needs one or two meetings, averaging 2 hours each, to get the couple into a verbal agreement on all the terms of their divorce. This is billed on an hourly rate of $175 for each spouse. The twelve documents required to be signed by the parties and filed with the court are a separate fee, usually shared equally, costing less than $800 each. The alternative of each spouse hiring an attorney in North Florida will typically result in
each one paying over $3,500 before the divorce is completed.
Time
Once a marriage has ended most people want to complete a divorce in a reasonable time frame, When each spouse retains an attorney it will take between 9 to 12 months to complete their divorce. A mediated divorce takes less than half that time.
Once a marriage has ended most people want to complete a divorce in a reasonab le time frame, When each spouse retains an attorney it will take between 9 to 12 months to complete their divorce. A mediated divorce takes less than half that time.
Fairness
I mediation both spouses decided what is a "fair" settlement, not the mediator or even the judge. ( Judges have the authority to reject a mediated settlement but I have never seen that happen ). The mediator explains your options ang gives examples of how disagreements are resolved with compromise, trade offs and common sense. Only with mediation can you control the outcome of your divorce settlement and its cost.
I mediation both spouses decided what is a "fair" settlement, not the mediator or even the judge. ( Judges have the authority to reject a mediated settlement but I have never seen that happen ). The mediator explains your options ang gives examples of how disagreements are resolved with compromise, trade offs and common sense. Only with mediation can you control the outcome of your divorce settlement and its cost.
Protection
After you are given your mediated divorce settlement, if you are not comfortable with it that it is "fair", then you can take it to an attorney for review and advice. Based on their input changes
can be made to your Agreement before it is filed.
After you are given your mediated divorce settlement, if you are not comfortable with it that it is "fair", then you can take it to an attorney for review and advice. Based on their input changes
can be made to your Agreement before it is filed.
