Florida Divorce Blog

Alot of cases are settled at mediation. It is alot less expensive to use a mediator on a case than to pay attorneys to have a trial on your matter. (especially considering substantial, expensive trial preparation costs) Mediators cannot make you settle on terms that you don’t want to. But they can, based on their experience, advise you of what might be a reasonable settlement. They may also be able to give you an educated opinion on what the judge might do on your case if it went to trial. And it may be helpful to have an unbiased persont that each party trusts, help with the settlement negotiations.

But it is very important you not schedule mediation until there’s been an exchange of financial documents which has given you an understanding of the family finances and your spouse’s income and finances. You probably should also not schedule mediation until you have a complete understanding of the factors that effect non financial issues such as custody, visitation and timesharing. (and sometimes you should not mediate until depositions have been taken so that your lawyer can ask your spouse or others questions under oath about the matters involved in your Florida divorce)

Interested in Florida divorce mediation?
Click here to get an idea of what's involved

You have every right to represent yourself. But even if you think your case is really simple you should at an absolute minimum pay for a consultation with a lawyer . It is hard to know what your rights and responsibilities are without using an attorney. If you aren’t aware of your rights you won’t know to ask for them. Or you may end up giving away what you don’t need to. And if you don’t know the Court rules of evidence, you may be precluded from having important testimony or evidence heard or seen. And that could lead to you losing an important part of your case.

The Court can order an amount of child support 5% higher or lower than the statute calls for. But if they want to deviate more than 5% the court needs to give legally sufficient reasons. Court don’t often deviate more than 5% but it can be done in unusual circumstances. (ie such as where a child has unique needs, like a need for expensive medicine.)

You can go to court to get an order granting you timesharing with your kids

Someone can be held in contempt for not honoring a Court’s timesharing order. If someone disobeys temporary timesharing orders, that can be considered when the Judge determines the parties “permanent” timesharing right.