Florida Mediation Attorneys
Divorce can be a painful and difficult process for all parties involved. Even if you were the one to make the final decision, you know a divorce could affect your financial security, your emotional stability, and the well-being of your children. When entering the divorce process, it is important to remember what is most valuable – repairing your life and maintaining a healthy environment for your children.
Additionally, lengthy litigations can often have very high costs. You may be battling for years, accumulating thousands of dollars in court costs and attorney fees while battling significant emotional pressure. Mediation is an alternative to the lengthy litigation process that allows both parties to come to an agreement quickly outside of the courtroom. At DML Attorneys, we are available to represent you in mediation or to serve as your mediator.
Divorce Mediation
Divorce mediation may be appropriate for you if you are seeking to save money in the process and resolve your disputes through negotiation and settlement. As your attorneys, we prepare for mediation by understanding expectations and adopting a plan and a settlement strategy. We will ask the following:
What are your goals?
Does your spouse offer a safe and appropriate environment for your children?
What will you agree to?
Where are we going to start our negotiations?
What is the likely result in court?
Will you benefit by going to trial?
What is your bottom line?
After determining your goals and identifying any limitations, we will discuss what the court might do if your case went to trial. If you believe that divorce mediation is best for you, we will strategize in order to accomplish your objectives. If your voice is being heard and understood, there is greater likelihood for immediate and long-term success.
Military Divorce Mediation
Military service members and their spouses face many unique issues in mediation. The process is far more efficient if the mediator understands these issues and has experience in military divorce. Many times, the parties to a military divorce can benefit if they have attorneys and a mediator experienced in military divorce issues, such as the structure of military pay, allowances, and benefits, tax issues in a military divorce, special laws regarding time-sharing and custody for military service members, and division of military retirement pay. In almost every mediation, the parties and their counsel need to get the mediator “up to speed” on the issues in the case. And, a mediator can better facilitate the negotiation if he or she is already familiar with the unique laws and issues that military families face.
Advantages of Mediation
Effective mediation has many advantages to other dispute resolution processes aside from potentially saving the parties substantial costs and time. Since mediation is confidential, you can maintain your family and your own privacy from the public eyes. This same confidentiality allows the parties to address and consider alternative settlements and resolutions and speak candidly about their concerns. It is even possible to reach an agreement in mediation that is outside of what the Court could consider ordering. For these reasons, it is important that a mediator suggest different alternatives and potential options.
Richard Mockler is a certified Florida Supreme court Civil and Family Mediator. He will help you reach an amicable resolution to your situation and will remain neutral to each side throughout. He can also assist in writing and distributing settlement documents should you reach an agreement. Your mediator is not able to force any party to sign any agreements or give any legal advice, but rather help focus each side, offer suggestions, and facilitate an agreement between the parties.
Should I Pursue Divorce Mediation?
Many people feel that their divorce should be “uncontested.” Reaching the “uncontested” resolution is often more difficult than first anticipated. Divorce mediation is a way of bringing people to the table. Divorce mediation may resolve a case in a manner that is faster, less expensive, and less contested. If you feel that you and your spouse will work together to reach an agreement without the necessity of court involvement, you should consider going to mediation before filing for divorce.
Our mediators will help facilitate communication and help you accomplish your goals through the negotiation process. A mediator’s role is to be fair and neutral and to ensure that both parties are heard and understood. Our mediators stress the importance of creating a mediation environment where the parties treat one another with civility. Intimidation and raised voices are not permitted at mediation.
You are more likely to reach a lasting and beneficial agreement if each party has an equal opportunity to participate in the negotiation process. As your mediators, we will not pressure you to accept any offer or to make a decision. Unless you are comfortable with the proposed solution and agree to the terms, you will not be bound by any decision made in mediation.
Should I Have An Attorney At The Mediation?
There is no requirement that you have an attorney at your mediation. Many parties mediate cases without attorneys. The mediator, however, cannot give you legal advice or protect your interests. The mediator’s role is to facilitate communication and negotiation in a neutral and unbiased manner. While a mediator can help the parties explore alternatives, the mediator cannot decide or advocate what is “right” or “fair” for you. Nor can the mediator predict what a court will do. Only your attorney can give you advice concerning your rights and advocate for your best interests.
Attorney Richard J. Mockler has experience preparing for and participating in significant, high-stakes mediations. In addition to representing clients in connection with family law mediations, Richard has represented parties in mediations and negotiations with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake. Richard can help prepare you for mediation and negotiate on your behalf.
Richard is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator. As a mediator, Richard will service in a neutral, unbiased role to help both parties resolve divorce issues through settlement and negotiation. He will not decide your case, but he will help facilitate the dispute resolution process.
If we represent you, we will take a comprehensive approach to the mediation process to protect your rights, while working toward an amicable solution for you and your family.
If Richard serves as your mediator, we will work in a neutral and unbiased way to help you and your spouse negotiate a resolution in an environment that is conducive to open communication and finding solutions that work for you.