Divorce doesn’t have to be a contentious ugly public affair that leaves a divorcing couple and their children broken, bitter, and poor. Instead of choosing to litigate and fight in Court, mediation may be the right path for many families. Couples that are able to resolve their differences and work toward a settlement through mediation often have a much easier time with the divorce process and avoid court proceedings all together.
Divorce mediation is far less expensive than litigation. When you take a divorce to court, you’re not only paying attorney fees, but there are also expert witnesses, preparation fees, depositions, motion filing fees, and many other hidden costs. When couples mediate, they are able to control their billable hours and resolve the issue quickly while saving a ton of money in the process.
The formality of courtroom proceedings is also nonexistent in mediation. Instead, the couple with or without attorneys sit around at a table to discuss issues in a low pressure environment. This gives them the ability to talk through their issues and disagreements with a neutral mediator present, rather than testifying before a judge who will ultimately make a decision for them without their input in the decision-making process.
Skilled mediators are vital to the process, as they will work with both spouses and assist them in reaching a settlement which is favorable to both parties and saves them the significant expense of litigation. The settlements agreed upon in mediation are often more creative than those decided by a court proceeding and are best suitable for the family. That’s because the couple themselves formulate terms that work for them as opposed to a judge who does not know them and what is best for their family make the decisions for that couple.
Divorcing couples may be ordered by the court to attempt mediation before their trial date, however mediation can be entered into voluntarily at any stage, including prior to a divorce or paternity case having been filed, and even the parties do not hire an attorney and decide to attend mediation on their own
Maritza Estevez-Pazos is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator with a stellar reputation among her peers in the family law community and has assisted numerous families in settling their disputes through mediation at all stages of the case, including prior to a case being filed in Court. We believe in your ability to reach an amicable settlement with your spouse that works for your family and is in the best interest of your children without having to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees and enduring the emotional toll that litigation takes on families.
We strive to see personalized and well thought out resolutions to divorce mediations. After all, this is one of the most important proceedings of your life and should not be left in the hands of total strangers who know nothing about your family’s needs.
Some of the main areas that we serve can be found below:
Schedule a mediation session with a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and experienced
divorce attorney today. Call now for your appointment at 305-717-7130. We are proud to serve Miami-Dade County from our offices at 135 San Lorenzo Avenue, Suite 650, Coral Gables, Florida 33146.