Divorces can often become bitter and protracted but that doesn’t need to be the case. At Weiner & Weiss, LLC, we often help clients resolve divorce cases through mediation — a positive and sensible alternative to litigation for many people. Our attorneys can represent clients in mediation proceedings, or serve as third-party neutrals for parties who already have legal representation.
From our offices in Boca Raton, we provide family law services to clients throughout Broward and Palm Beach counties in southeast Florida.
Mediation is a process by which an impartial third party, known as a “neutral” or simply a “mediator,” facilitates an agreement between divorcing spouses without need of a trial. In Florida, all divorce cases require the parties to attend at least one mediation session. Prior to the session, the parties and their attorneys should meet several times to prepare. This is because many important issues, such as child custody, child support, alimony and property distribution, may be discussed and negotiated during the meeting. The better each side understands their own and each other’s strengths, weaknesses and demands, the easier the process will be. When we represent a party in mediation, we put in the work needed to maximize the chances of success.
The mediator’s job is to guide you toward settlement. Each party comes to the mediation with their own points of view and expectations of what they can get out of the process. A good mediator with a firm knowledge of family law issues can view the situation from an unbiased perspective, talk sense to each party and help them move toward realistic, amicable solutions to the issues in their case. At the conclusion of a mediation, a settlement agreement is signed by the parties and submitted to the court for approval and for inclusion in the divorce judgment.
The selection of a skilled mediator is very important to the success of the process. Gary D. Weiner, managing partner at Weiner & Weiss, LLC, has extensive experience helping parties resolve disputes through mediation. His experience also gives him special insight into matters of child custody, parenting plans and time sharing.
There are many advantages to using mediation to settle divorce and other family law matters, including:
To enjoy the full benefits of mediation, it is essential to consult and retain an experienced family law attorney. Fair and equitable settlements cannot be reached if parties do not understand their legal rights or the strengths and weaknesses of their cases. Furthermore, a judge’s approval of the divorce settlement is much more likely if both parties were represented by counsel and made aware of their legal rights.
You have many options when it comes to handling divorce and associated issues such as child custody, support and property distribution. To discuss how mediation may work in your unique situation, please call Weiner & Weiss, LLC in Boca Raton or contact us online to schedule a consultation.