Mediation is an effective way to resolve disputes outside of court, promoting collaboration and reducing stress. A skilled Kissimmee mediation lawyer of Lebron Law, PLLC can help facilitate communication and reach fair agreements. Contact a mediation attorney in Kissimmee, FL today at (321) 800-5195 for guidance and support in your journey!
Divorce is almost always thought of as a difficult and emotionally taxing process. However, it is the reality of many couples in Florida. Florida has a high divorce rate, at 3.1 percent per 1,000 people. Compare this to Florida’s marriages per 1,000 people–7.1%. The top three reasons for divorce are cited as incompatibility (43%), infidelity (28%), and money issues (22%). Divorce doesn’t have to be long, costly, and drawn out, though.
By fostering open communication and compromise, mediation can help couples navigate the complexities of divorce in a less adversarial and potentially more cost-effective manner. Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with a Kissimmee mediation lawyer and learn how mediation can help you in your divorce.
How Our Mediation Lawyers Can Help You Mediate Your Divorce
Mediation is a useful tool that can help you settle your divorce outside of the courtroom, even if you and your spouse disagree on divorce terms. Not all Kissimmee divorce lawyers are successful mediators, however. You need an experienced mediator who understands how the process works in Florida and can walk you through the process. Let us help you end your divorce on favorable terms that benefit you and your children.
When you hire Lebron Law, PLLC, to mediate your divorce, you can trust we will:
- Explain the Florida divorce and mediation process from start to finish
- Listen to your goals for during and after your divorce
- Develop a mediation strategy to help you achieve your desired outcomes
- Handle all communications with your spouse and/or their attorney
- Represent you in all proceedings related to the divorce
Mediation requires specialized training and experience. When you hire our Kissimmee family law attorneys to mediate your divorce, you can feel confident you are in good hands.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral party, known as a mediator, helps the parties find a solution to their dispute. The person acting as the mediator should not have any close connection to anyone in the dispute or anyone participating in the mediation. The mediator’s goal is to encourage the parties to collaborate and reach an agreement they both agree upon. Mediation is less rigid than litigation and arbitration and allows for creative techniques that might not otherwise be accepted.
A mediator does not usually decide on the merits of the case; they merely act to facilitate settlement discussions and help the parties reach an agreement. Parties are never forced to accept the agreement before them. If the parties cannot agree, the mediation process terminates, and the parties can pursue their claims in court, where a judge will make a decision for them.
What Role Does a Mediator Play in Divorce?
A mediator is not a judge. They do not make decisions for you. Their goal is to be a neutral and impartial guide that will help you come up with possible solutions, make sure you stay on track, and clarify areas of disagreement between you and your spouse.
Court-ordered mediation will begin with the mediator explaining the process and their role. This is usually followed by an opportunity for you and your spouse to describe your concerns. If your lawyer is with you, these remarks may be made by you, your lawyer, or both of you. After these procedures, the next steps of mediation may vary.
The mediator will usually meet with you and your spouse, both together and privately, to help you work out your differences. Some lawyers will instruct you not to speak to the mediator; however, you should know you are allowed to speak to the mediator at any time. Eventually, the mediation will end in one of three ways:
- Agreement: The parties reach an agreement as to some or all issues, and all parties (and lawyers) sign the agreement
- Impasse: The mediator declares an impasse (if you, your spouse, or both are unwilling to continue discussing a resolution)
- Adjournment: The mediator, with the parties’ consent, continues the session by adjourning for the day
If your mediator declares an impasse as to some or all issues, you and the other party must go back to court to have a judge or jury decide your case. How long a mediation lasts depends on many factors–it can range between half an hour to several days, depending on the complexity of the case.
What Issues Can a Mediator Assist With During a Divorce?
A mediator can help you resolve many issues related to divorce, including:
- Child custody
- Visitation and time-sharing of children
- Parental decision-making involving health care, education, and more
- Child support
- Spousal support
- Determining how property should be divided
- Equitable distribution of assets and debts
Our experienced mediators can guide you through your legal issues and help you and your spouse resolve any differences to find the best solutions.
What Are Some of the Benefits of Mediation?
Mediation has many benefits when compared to a traditional courtroom divorce. The following are several advantages to mediation:
- Impartiality: Mediation allows you to talk to someone who is impartial
- Self-determination: The issues in your dispute are not decided by someone else (who may not know your situation well)
- Confidentiality: What you say in mediation is confidential, unlike trials and hearings
- Communication: The mediator can help you overcome obstacles to communication with the other party in your dispute
- Enforceability: The mediation agreement becomes a legally binding document that is enforceable by the court
- Flexibility: A mediated agreement allows you and the other party to reach flexible solutions to your dispute
- Mediation is not a trial or arbitration: There is no judge or jury deciding the dispute without your input
- Speed and affordability: Mediation can save time and money
- Predictability: You know what you have agreed upon in mediation; you are not gambling on what the judge or jury might say
- Understanding: Mediation is an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of why the dispute arose
Mediation offers several advantages compared to traditional dispute resolution methods, including greater control, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, faster resolution, and the potential for improved communication and understanding between the parties involved.
Do I Need an Attorney to Represent Me During a Mediation?
You do not have to have an attorney at mediation. However, some may find it helpful to consult one prior to mediation or even have one with them during it.
Having an attorney can help you articulate your position to the mediator, as they will be versed in legal terminology and processes. They can also help you understand the long-term consequences and effects of accepting certain terms of a divorce agreement. They can also strategically advocate for the terms that are most important to you, significantly enhancing your negotiating position.
Lastly, an attorney can advise you of your legal rights during the divorce process, ensuring you don’t compromise your position in any way.
Will Hiring an Outside Expert Be Necessary During Mediation?
Having an outside expert might offer some benefits, while it is not objectively necessary. Experts can offer specialized knowledge that might help you reach informed and equitable agreements, especially when dealing with complex areas like finances, property, or child custody arrangements. For example, an expert might be helpful if you and your spouse are unable to agree on the value of marital property.
How Much Does a Mediator Cost?
Since mediation is a discussion between the parties, it can be much quicker than a formal trial process. This means it may cost less than going to court. The exact cost of mediation depends on several factors. These may include:
- Whether the court provides a mediator or you must select your own
- The parties’ combined or joint income
- Whether free services are available through your court/jurisdiction
- Whether you hire a private mediator
- Any applicable fees for the mediator’s travel, postponements, or other expenses
If the parties do not select a mediator, the court will select a mediator for you and will set the fees the mediator may charge.
Schedule a Free Consultation With A Trusted Kissimmee Mediation Attorney
Mediation is a powerful tool that can help you save time and money while settling divorce disputes out of court. In mediation, there is a facilitated discussion between you and the other party (and their lawyer/s). This means that you will be able to negotiate your terms through a neutral third party and work to find a resolution that works best for you and your family. Ultimately, mediation’s success hinges on both parties’ willingness to engage in good faith, embrace compromise, and prioritize a peaceful transition into the next chapter of their lives.
Contact Lebron Law, PLLC, to schedule a free consultation with a Kissimmee mediation lawyer to ask any questions you might have. Let the team at our law firm walk you through the mediation process so that you can begin the process with confidence.
Visit Our Family & Divorce Law Firm in Kissimmee, FL
Lebron Law, PLLC
15 S Orlando Ave, Kissimmee, FL 34741, United States
(321) 800-5195
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