Dissolution of Marriage (Divorce) is an important legal action.  It is important to get competent legal advice when considering how to proceed.  For every part of the process that seems straight-forward, there is a legal mine field that can cause you problems now or in the future.  It is possible to save money in the short term by not hiring an attorney, it is possible that it will cost you more for years to come in a poorly negotiated agreement.

Mediation is an opportunity to reach agreement with your spouse about how to handle the following issues in your divorce:

Parenting Plan: Formerly called custody, the state of Florida has a preference for discussing a plan for where and with whom your children will be at different times.

Equitable Distribution: This is where you discuss which articles will belong to whom following the dissolution.

Alimony: This can come in several forms and durations.  Sometimes alimony is to help a spouse obtain needed skills to help them gain employment.  It can be a short-term payment to simply help a former spouse get back on their feet.  In other cases, it is designed to be a long-term assistance to help maintain a prior standard of living.

Child Support: Child support in Florida is calculated based on a published chart, but it's important to understand the impact that the Parenting Plan and Alimony can have on that calculation.  This is an area where an experienced family practitioner can help immensely.

Attorney Fees: In many cases, parties may wish to negotiate who will pay what in attorney fees.

All of these issues can be successfully addressed in mediation.  Please call Higher Ground Mediation "because conflict is inevitable, combat is not." TM

Florida Pro Se Divorce Package - $1,500 (plus court costs)

We can mediate all aspects of your divorce for $1,500.  This includes up to four (4) two-hour mediation conferences to discuss all of the above issues compiled into a package of documents you can use to file for pro se (without attorney) Dissolution of Marriage.  In some cases, it takes longer to fully mediate all issues.  Additional mediation sessions will be billed at the standard rate of $200/hr.  Each party is responsible for $750, payable in $250 installments at the end of the first three mediation sessions.  The fourth session, if needed, is free unless it exceeds the scheduled two hour time allotted.  It is possible, with this plan, to complete a Dissolution of Marriage in Hillsborough County, Florida for approximately $2,000 (includes parenting classes, if required, and court filing fee).