How Can You Prepare for Divorce Mediation in Florida?
There are different ways to end a marriage in Florida, but more than 90% of all divorce cases are settled out of court. An ever-increasing number of couples seek a divorce through mediation. Also, many courts require mediation prior to allowing couples to go to court.
If you are considering resolving your divorce case through mediation, it is important to understand how the process works and how you can prepare for mediation in Florida to secure the most favorable outcome.
Consult with a skilled attorney at Greater Orlando Family Law to review your particular situation and determine what you need to do to prepare for your next mediation session.
Preparing for Divorce Mediation in Florida
Divorce mediation requires the presence of both spouses and a neutral, third-party mediator. Also, the spouses’ attorneys can attend mediation sessions to assist their clients in navigating the process.
The mediator’s task is to go back and forth between the two spouses to facilitate the negotiation process and help the opposing parties reach a consensus. Unlike a trial, the mediation process is informal. Another main difference between divorce trial and mediation is that spouses have full control over the decision-making process. By contrast, a trial judge has complete control over the divorce agreement.
How you prepare for your upcoming mediation session is going to have a major impact on the outcome of your divorce settlement in Florida. The first thing you should do is examine your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement, also referred to as “BATNA.”
Once you have assessed what you will get if the negotiation fails, you can prepare for the least favorable agreement you are willing to accept. For this purpose, you need to determine the importance of each disputed issue in your divorce case.
When you understand the value of each contested issue in your divorce, you are more capable of compromising and negotiating a mutually beneficial settlement without your emotions getting in the way.
Prepare Yourself Emotionally and Mentally
As you draft a plan to achieve the most favorable outcome, it is also vital to prepare the legal arguments to back up your plan. A skilled divorce attorney in Orlando can help you prepare the legal basis for your requests and claims.
For example, if you are seeking alimony, an experienced attorney will help you gather evidence proving that you qualify for spousal support under Florida’s family law. A knowledgeable lawyer will also be able to help you discover prior case law that is similar to your case in order to back up your arguments or challenge the opposing party’s claims.
Being prepared for mediation from a legal standpoint substantially increases your chance of achieving the most desired outcome. However, it is equally important to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally.
While mediation is an informal process, it is still advised to keep your emotions in check and stay calm when resolving your divorce case through mediation. If you have a hard time keeping a cool head during your divorce case, do not hesitate to speak with an experienced Orlando mediation attorney to help you protect your rights and achieve the most favorable outcome on your behalf.
Contact Greater Orlando Family Law to receive a consultation about your particular case. Schedule a case review with your lawyers by calling at 407-377-6399.
