1. How much does mediation cost? Compared to the traditional approach to divorce (court, lawyers), mediation costs much less. The parties share the costs of one mediator.
2. How long does mediation take? That’s really up to you. The average mediation case takes about 3-4 hours, but we’ll spend as much time as you need to come to an agreement. However, almost every mediated divorce takes less time than a traditional divorce.
3. Will mediation work for me? Chances are it will. In our experience, an agreement is reached in most mediated cases, whether it is a complete agreement on all issues or even an agreement on some of the issues. Even if there is conflict, mediation can be helpful to open the lines of communication and resolve some of the issues in your divorce.
4. What if we can’t agree? If you cannot agree on every aspect of your divorce, you can still reach a partial agreement through mediation, saving you time and money. If there are still some unresolved issues you can take those issues to court separately.
5. Is mediation confidential? Mediation is confidential, unlike most court proceedings which are public record. Discussions during mediation are confidential and cannot be used against you in court, with certain exceptions noted in Chapter 44 of the Florida Statutes.
6. Isn’t mediation just for simple, uncomplicated divorces? That’s a common misconception. Laura has used mediation to solve the most complicated divorces involving parental responsibility, parenting time, child custody, support, alimony, and property divisions. Even if you own a business together, mediation can help you accomplish the division of the business
7. How will mediation help my children? In mediation, children do not have to take sides or get caught in the middle. Mediation allows parents to consider their child’s specific needs and tailor an agreement that works best for their family. During mediation, parents learn to communicate better, which will help settle any future disputes.