Mediation: A cost-effective solution
Most counties in Florida require that the parties in a contested family law matter proceed to mediation prior to setting any hearings or proceeding to trial. Mediation is an effective process which allows the parties to decide the outcome of their future as opposed to a Judge. The process involves a third-party neutral person (mediator) who assists negotiations by opening the lines of communication between the parties to reach an agreement. Two key facts to remember about the success of mediation:
- You have the control to decide the fate of your future; and
- You will save money if an agreement can be reached
How can a person involved in a family law matter save money by resolving his or her case in mediation? Simply because families that work together save together. Litigation (hearings or trial) will cost you thousands of dollars in billable attorney’s fees to effectively represent you. The nature of litigation itself creates an adversarial atmosphere which is usually driven by the hostilities of the parties. If you and your former partner can decrease your hostilities toward one another, you will work together to make decisions about your lives and if you have children, their lives too. Thus, you remove the need for hearings or trial because you were able to reach an agreement and successfully reduce the cost of your family law matter. Our firm has successfully resolved a majority of its cases through mediation and saved our clients thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about how mediation can save you money and to learn more about mediation in general visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediation.
“He who represents himself has a fool for a client.” - Abraham Lincoln.
This old adage is especially true in family law matters because the emotions tied to a family law case are so intensive that it often results in an inability to remain objective and make sound decisions. When a family or partners separate, you go through a highly emotional state whether you are the person who chose to leave or the person being left. It’s important to recognize that under such emotional conditions an attorney can help remove the emotions from your case and keep you focused on the reasonable and rational decisions that must be made during such a trying time. If you have attempted to resolve your family law matter on your own and were unsuccessful, contact our firm to represent you as opposed to you representing yourself. We can assist you through the emotional process and minimize your stress as you make important life-changing decisions.
Litigation - A Necessary "Evil" or Expense (sometimes)
When mediation fails because the parties were unable to agree, litigation may be the only alternative. Before completely surrendering to the high cost of litigation, a skilled and cost-conscientious attorney should attempt to resolve some of the issues in your case even if only to reach a partial settlement during the mediation or negotiation process. Fewer issues in a case set for trial equals a reduction in litigation cost. While it should never be the goal of any family law attorney to immediately proceed to hearings or trial, sometimes the cost of litigation is a necessary evil. A good family law attorney should thoroughly educate you in the law pertaining to your case so that you can make an informed decision on whether you should spend the time and money on litigation. Contact our firm to see if litigation is the right option for you.
Contact The McGwier Law Firm for legal help with all aspects of the divorce process.
