Four Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Florida Family Law Mediation
Mediation is a method of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that can help family members work out their issues in a informal venue outside of a traditional courtroom. As explained by the Florida Courts, mediation is “voluntary” and “confidential” — the process is set up to help parties reach a mutually agreeable settlement.
If you are considering using mediation for your divorce, custody, or family law case, it is crucial that you are properly prepared for the process. In this post, our dedicated Clearwater family law mediation lawyer offers a list of the top tips that you can use to help yourself get ready for mediation in Florida.
How to Prepare for Your Family Law Mediation
- Speak to an Experienced Professional
When you go through family law mediation in Florida, a trained mediator will be assigned to handle your case. However, the mediator cannot and will not offer you legal advice. Each party to the case should be represented by their own individual legal counsel. It is highly recommended that you consult with an experienced Clearwater, FL family law attorney ahead of time.
- Gather and Organize All Relevant Documents
One of the keys to a successful family law mediation is careful organization. First and foremost, you need to make sure that you have prepared all relevant financial information. Among other things, this includes your financial affidavit, verification of your income, verification of your expenses, and an overview of your marital assets. Beyond that, parents should also organize any documents or records that are relevant to their custody or time sharing case.
- Know Your Objectives
Before you enter the mediation process, you should know exactly what you want to get out of your family law case. Only when you know what issues are truly important to you and what issues matter less will you be in the best position to make real progress towards a mutually agreeable family law settlement.
- Get Into the Right Frame of Mind
Remember, mediation is a non-binding alternative dispute resolution process that is designed to facilitate a resolution in a low-conflict environment. In general, the best way to approach mediation is with an open mind and a willingness to think “outside of the box.” When both parties can bring some level of flexibility to the process, it is far more likely that an agreement will be reached. Of course, this does not mean that your rights or interests will take a back seat. If a fair agreement is simply not possible through mediation, you always retain the right to end the process and return to Court to resolve the issues.
Contact Our Clearwater, FL Family Law Mediation Attorney Today
At the Law Office of Gale H. Moore P.A., our Clearwater family law mediation lawyer has extensive experience representing clients in mediation. If you are considering mediation for your divorce or custody case, we are ready to help. For a fully confidential discussion with a mediation attorney, please contact us today. From our law office Largo, we serve clients throughout Pinellas County.
Resource:
flcourts.org/Resources-Services/Alternative-Dispute-Resolution/Mediation-in-Florida
https://www.galehmoore.com/how-to-overcome-an-impasse-in-divorce-mediation/
