Jacksonville and St. Augustine Divorce Mediation Lawyer
Divorce can be emotionally exhausting, especially if children are involved. Important decisions will need to be made regarding various areas of your life. The decision will have far-reaching and long-lasting outcomes. Our Jacksonville divorce attorney can help you make smart, well-informed decisions.
The law office of Beth M. Terry, P.A., delivers aggressive legal services our clients need. If you are involved in a contested or uncontested divorce, we can help.
Do You Need Assistance With a Florida Divorce?
Florida is a no-fault divorce state. This means you do not need to show the court a case for the divorce, simply that the marriage is broken beyond repair. Attorney Beth Terry is committed to providing honest, upfront guidance to her clients in uncontested and contested divorces. She can help you arrive at favorable outcomes regarding:
Uncontested Divorce
Uncontested divorces are the least stressful and least contentious method of divorce. Our attorney can provide effective guidance on all issues for a settlement proposal, and if both parties are able to agree upon all or most of the issues in advance, our attorney can write the agreement, which the court will adopt in a hearing. This process is typically faster than contested divorce, taking only about 60 to 90 days.
Contested Divorce
When parties cannot agree on property division, child custody, child support and/or spousal support, the dissolution of the marriage occurs through a contested divorce. Like a traditional lawsuit, the process typically involves a filed petition, discovery, negotiation, and settlement or trial. Generally, contested divorce is a more formal, costly and time-consuming process than an uncontested divorce.
The Mediation Requirement
In contested divorces, the courts in northeast Florida generally require that the parties first engage in mediation. Mediation is a facilitated negotiation involving a court-appointed certified mediator who helps the parties arrive at an agreement on the issues. If successful, the mediation results in a signed agreement. The agreement is then submitted to the court for adoption, after which the marriage is officially dissolved. If the mediation is unsuccessful, we proceed to trial. Our St. Augustine divorce mediation attorney can answer any questions you may have about the process.
Encouraging Agreements Outside of Court
At the law office of Beth M. Terry, P.A., we encourage clients to come to an agreement, if possible. Reaching agreement through uncontested divorce or mediation allows parties to devise creative solutions tailored to their own specific situations. In a contested divorce, the court will decide every issue: custody, visitation, property division, support — a route that rarely leaves either side happy.
We realize, however, that agreement is not always possible. In such a case, you can take confidence in knowing that we have the knowledge and experience it takes to protect your interests at trial. In contested divorce, judges have a lot of discretion in deciding the issues, and our job is to give a realistic assessment of what to expect and to advocate zealously on your behalf.
Attorney Beth M. Terry brings assertive, zealous representation to your divorce. To schedule your confidential consultation at our Jacksonville, Florida, law firm, call us locally at 904-638-8961 or toll free at 866-726-4608. You may also contact us online.
