Florida Divorce Mediation Counseling and Parenting Classes
Florida divorce counseling and mediation services are a resource that is sometimes over-looked by the general public. This field is however gaining a lot of attention lately. And deservedly so.
Divorce is never a situation anyone plans to experience when entering a marriage. For this reason, divorce can be very emotional and coming to terms with the process and each other can be very difficult. Florida divorce mediation is an alternative to fighting.
Whether the fighting is in court or at home, a divorce mediator can help both parties solve problems. For this reason, many states are ruling that anyone seeking a divorce needs to attempt mediation first. While this process is purely voluntary in the state of Florida, it is still recommended.
The goal of a mediator is to stop the fighting and present alternatives so both parties can agree. No matter the issue, whether child custody, child support, taxes, alimony, property division, or debt management, mediation can help both parties to file uncontested rather than spend time in court and pay high legal fees.
Divorce Mediators
What does a divorce mediator do? A mediator is a person who has experience in divorce proceedings. Often they are even prior attorneys or at least familiar with all aspects of the law and generally have a family counseling degree or equivalent.
A mediator will not give legal advice or tell a person what to do; they will present alternatives to every issue. It is important that a mediator not give legal advice or tell either party what they should or should not do because they are a neutral party trying to help both people rather than represent one or the other.
Florida Divorce Mediation and the Courts
While this may sound like the role of a judge, it differs significantly. A judge decides what should be done and orders both parties to do it, while a mediator can never order or force either party to do anything.
In the Florida divorce mediation process both parties meet with a mediator at a neutral non-judicial setting in order to make the setting as comfortable as possible. A good mediator will want to know all of the issues at stake and manage the discussion on every issue in order to attempt solutions that both parties can agree to.
Most people prefer the mediation process because it is similar to a bargaining process in which a person and choose to say “no” if they want to. In mediation, a lawyer may be present to advise one party or the other, but the point of mediation is to stay away from high legal fees and stop the fighting.
Benefits of Mediation
The key to mediation is that all issues are agreed upon. If any issue cannot be agreed upon, the parties will have to seek judgment from a court. Anything discussed or worked out in the mediation is considered confidential and if brought up in court after mediation failed, is nothing more than hearsay and will not be included in the judge’s decision.
A mediation report will be sent to court along with the case. It shows where there was an impasse along with what was agreed upon by each party. If an impasse is reached then mediation failed and everything worked no longer counts.
If mediation is successful then the mediator will write a mediation agreement and both parties will sign the agreement. Once this agreement is signed, it will be sent to the court and final judgment given, normally for successful dissolution of the marriage.
How does one find a good Florida divorce mediator? Any divorce attorney should be familiar with local mediator and will usually give a referral. If the parties do not want to hire divorce attorneys then a mediator can be referred by a court or even ordered by a court.
If the couple is doing the smart thing and seeking a mediator prior to a court filing then contacting the courthouse should yield some results. An additional place to find a good mediator is the internet. Florida Divorce Mediation Services are abundant. Check with the local court staff to see if they have local recommendations to attorneys offering mediation services.
No matter the source, review the mediation services offered and do some research before picking the mediator. An informed decision can make the process much easier.
Overall, the mediation process saves time, money, and a lot of heartache. Rather than have a judge decide what you should or should not do and then order you to carry out their order, consider having a say in your future.
In the state of Florida, 95 percent of all divorces end in an uncontested manner. When a divorce goes to court, rarely does anyone “win” other than the attorneys. An uncontested divorce can pass through the courts and be finalized in as little as 30 days.
Florida Parenting Classes
The Florida divorce mediation class is required for all state of Florida Dissolution of Marriages which involve children.
In some circuits, on-line courses will be accepted upon a showing of some special need, such as disability, military service, or residence in a State where such a course is not available.
Check with the clerk of court to see if a Florida divorce mediation on-line courses are accepted. If not, most circuits have a listing of local providers.
You can get more information by contacting the clerk of court in your county or by checking the telephone directory.
Here are some excellent links to Department of Children and Families approved on-line Parenting Class providers.
And the Eighth Judicial Circuit publishes this web-page with links to approved providers: Eighth Judicial Circuit Family Court Nolo Divorce Library Divorce Without Court: Mediation and Divorce.
A fantastic resource for the understanding and application of how mediation can help a divorcing couple come to a mutual agreement on divorce issues like, custody, time-sharing, property division, assets and liabilities, child support, and alimony.
Coming to a mediated settlement can save thousands of dollars, months of time, and an easier divorcing process for all involved. We highly recommend it.
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Contact us. Do you have a question or need assistance with a legal situation. We may be able to help. Contact Florida Court Forms and tell us about it.
A fantastic resource for the understanding and application of how mediation can help a divorcing couple come to a mutual agreement on divorce issues like, custody, time-sharing, property division, assets and liabilities, child support, and alimony. 
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Contact us. Do you have a question or need assistance with a legal situation. We may be able to help. Contact Florida Court Forms and tell us about it. 
