Is Divorce Mediation Required in Florida?

If you are about to get a divorce, you may think you have a long and bitter courtroom battle ahead of you. Fortunately, your case may not have to be that way. You and your spouse can reach an agreement resolving all the terms of your divorce. These terms include property division, child custody, and alimony. If you cannot agree with your spouse about all of the divorce terms, state law does require you to enter mediation. Below, our experienced attorney explains more about Brandon divorce mediation.

What Happens During Mediation? 

Mediation does not halt divorce proceedings as many people think. It actually happens at the beginning of the divorce process. If you and your spouse cannot agree to all the terms of your divorce, you are required to try and resolve your disputes during mediation before entering litigation.

During mediation, you and your spouse will meet with a neutral third party mediator, either together or separately. The role of the mediator is to facilitate compromise and communication between you and your spouse so you can reach an agreement on the terms of your divorce outside of the courtroom. If you can reach an agreement during mediation, it is submitted to the court for approval. If you cannot, you will have to enter litigation, which means going to trial.

Mediation has Many Benefits Over Litigation 

Even if you do not want to enter mediation, the process does hold many benefits, particularly when compared with entering litigation.

The first benefit is that disputes are often resolved much faster during mediation than they are when going to trial. If you enter litigation, the timeline for your divorce will largely depend on the schedule of the court. Today, the family courts in Florida are still dealing with some backlog from the pandemic, which means your divorce could take several months, or even years, before the case is closed. Mediation, on the other hand, can resolve your disputes within a matter of weeks.

In addition to being faster, mediation is also much more affordable than litigation. Divorce attorneys often charge more for representing someone at someone than they do when helping negotiate a settlement through mediation. The longer any divorce takes, the more expensive it will be so mediation is an efficient solution.

Perhaps the biggest benefit of mediation, however, is that it gives you complete control of the decision-making process. You and your spouse can resolve the terms of your case by creating custom solutions for your specific situations. During litigation, a judge will make all of the decisions and may not take the same factors into consideration.

Our Experienced Attorney Can Help You Through Divorce Mediation in Brandon 

Brandon divorce mediation has many benefits and is a great way to resolve the issues of your divorce. Still, you should not go through the process without sound legal representation. At Koether Law, our experienced attorney can help you navigate the process to ensure your rights are upheld and to help you obtain the settlement you need. Call us now at 813-347-8193 or contact us online to schedule a consultation.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0044/0044.html