If you’re tangled in a contested family law issue in Florida, you’ll likely face mediation. Generally, cases involving minor children go through this process.
Understanding Mediation
Mediation is a dispute resolution mechanism where a neutral third party, the “Mediator”, facilitates negotiations between the disagreeing parties. The goal is to reach a settlement without the mediator having to judge the case’s merits.
Mediation offers several benefits, including giving the parties more control, cost-saving, time-saving for the Court, and generally a friendlier process.
However, mediation costs can strain your budget. Mediators often charge $250-$400 per hour. To help those with limited financial resources, Florida’s court system offers In-House Mediation.
How In-House Mediation Works
After initiating a family law case, the Court typically issues an “Order of Referral to Mediation”. To fast-track the process, you can file a “Request for Referral to In-House Mediation”. This requests the Court to refer your case to mediation within the Court system, thus reducing costs.
When to Use In-House
Mediation in Florida Family Cases In-house mediation offers a flat, reduced rate for litigating parties. The fee is fixed depending on the combined income of the parties, for instance in Miami-Dade. However, prices can vary depending on the County where you start the action.
In-house mediation gives litigating parties the opportunity to mediate their case at a reduced, flat rate. Prices may vary depending on the County you initiate the action.
Mediation is important and is often the best opportunity that you’ll have to resolve your dispute without having to go through expensive and time-consuming litigation. Mediation is available to everyone regardless of your income. People who qualify may use in-house mediators at a reduced rate.
Click here for more information on mediation in Florida.
Conclusion
Mediation serves as a crucial step in resolving disputes without resorting to costly and time-consuming litigation. It’s accessible to everyone, regardless of income, especially with in-house mediators offering reduced rates for those who qualify.
The legal process can get difficult, which is why we always recommend that you seek the assistance of counsel; or at least have a consultation. Schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today to review the issues of your case, the legal options you may have, and certain rights that pertain to your unique situation.
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