For those contemplating a divorce I will be discussing topics over the next several weeks that you and your spouse should start thinking about and discussing as you come to a consensus regarding the terms of your Marital Settlement Agreement. Topics included will be:
Florida no longer uses terms like “custody” and “visitation.” Instead, parents must develop a “time-sharing” plan that specifies the time and overnights with each parent. It’s up to you as parents to come up with a schedule that works for the entire family. Ideally, each parent would be responsible for some of the fun (weekends, holidays, vacations) and some of the not-so-fun events (school, homework, doctors appointments.) You may be as flexible as you like with your actual schedules, but in the event of a disagreement, you will have to fall back on the Parenting Plan submitted to the court. (F.S. 61.13)
In America a divorce occurs every 13 seconds. With approximately fifty percent of all first marriages ending in divorce and that percentage going up to sixty percent in a second marriage, the odds are great that at sometime you will end up divorced.
What are some of the core mediation issues in a divorce?
Distribution of property
Custody and parenting time
Child support
Taxes
Retirement
What are the benefits of taking my case to mediation? The mediation is faster than a trial and can occur within three to six months. Mediation is less expensive than a trial. Divorce mediation’s end in agreement fifty to eight percent of the time.
Presented in a lighthearted look at what a mediator does during mediation. This video is a pictorial representation of the stages mediators take their parties through when they choose mediation. Video – Stages of Mediation
Received from Florida Dispute Resolution Center January 3, 2014
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Always verify your Mediator is current with his or her certification.
Florida Dispute Resolution Center Supreme Court Building 500 South Duval Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399
