What is mediation?

Faulkner Legal Group, P.A., an Orlando divorce, paternity and legal separation law firm, handles a variety of divorce, paternity and legal separation related issues in the Orlando, Central Florida and surrounding areas as well as the State of Florida as a whole. As an Orlando divorce, paternity and legal separation lawyer, attorney David A. Faulkner represents clients with regard to mediations.

Mediation is an alternative to litigation that may help you and your spouse avoid the emotional and financial costs of litigation.

A mediator is a neutral party that assists you and your spouse or former spouse in attempting to resolve disputed issues regarding your divorce. Those disputed issues may arise before, during or after a divorce. Mediation is an informal process that allows you and your spouse or former spouse to have control to reach an agreement resolving all or some of the disputed issues.

MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF MEDIATION

Control - You and opposing party decide what issues to settle, and with how much detail and flexibility given your individual interests and goals.

Certainty of Outcome - More certainty in the outcome of your case because you, the parties, reach the decisions. In other word, a trial will lead to a certain outcome, but the exact outcome is unknown to you until the judge renders a decision on all issues in the case. Of course, if a judge decides the outcome of your case, you may not like the decision. Short of appeal, you may then be stuck with an outcome that does not serve you or your family's interests.

Confidentiality - Subject to certain exceptions provided by law, communication in mediation is confidential. The mediating parties can freely engage in discussions to reach an agreement without having to worry that anything either of you say during the negotiations may later be used against you in court. Thus, if you make an offer to resolve your dispute during the mediation process, your opposing party could not then tell the judge that you had made the offer, even if you take a very different position in court than you did during mediation. Of course, unless you and your opposing party agree otherwise, the agreement itself (if you reach one) is usually not confidential and is filed with the court.

Save on Legal and Other Litigation Costs - Since you and your opposing party can work out an agreement, you save on legal fees and expenses, including the fees of other experts who may need to testify in court to resolve some issues.

WHERE TO GET LEGAL HELP?

The list above is by no means an exhaustive enumeration of the benefits of mediation. If you have Florida divorce, paternity and legal separation related disputed issues you would like to mediate, then contact Faulkner Legal Group, P.A. so that Orlando divorce, paternity and legal separation lawyer David A. Faulkner can inform you of your legal rights. Having an experienced Florida family law lawyer by your side at mediation would help ensure that you know the pros and cons of any mediation proposals. Call today.