On behalf of Sparkman Law Firm posted in Family Law on January 28th, 2020
Divorce Alternatives In Florida
When your marriage isn’t working, what do you do? Many people automatically jump to the conclusion of a divorce, but you may not have to go through the entire legal process of dissolving your marriage. Here’s what you need to know about your divorce options.
Annulment
An annulment is a legal procedure that can completely void a marriage. Whereas divorce legally ends a marriage, an annulment makes it so that the marriage never existed in the first place. However, not all marriages are eligible for annulment. Usually, you must be able to prove that you were coerced into marriage, intoxicated, or otherwise did not give your legal consent to the union.
Legal Separation
A legal separation gives a couple considering ending their marriage an option to “test the waters,” so to speak and separate legally before ending their marriage. This allows you to separate while remaining technically married, so you and your spouse can continue to enjoy the legal benefits of marriage, such as access to health and life insurance benefits, pensions, and more.
Mediation
Mediation is a newer type of divorce resolution that is quickly gaining traction in Florida as a way to handle disagreements in a neutral setting and reach compromises about important aspects of your divorce, like child custody, visitation, alimony, and more. During mediation, you’ll meet with a neutral third party who can help facilitate positive, effective communication between you and your spouse. This can allow you to resolve your divorce amicably, affordably, and with less time investment.
Arbitration
Arbitration is most like traditional divorce in that you meet in court and decisions are made for you regarding the dissolution of your marriage instead of simply approving your mutual agreement. However, instead of meeting in a courtroom with a judge and witnesses, you’ll meet alone with your spouse in the chambers of an arbitrator. This private meeting accomplishes essentially the same thing as a divorce, rendering final decisions on matters regarding your divorce. Once arbitration is complete, the arbitrator’s decisions are signed into the divorce decree.
Understand Your Legal Options by Contacting a Florida Divorce Lawyer
If you’ve been served with divorce papers or are simply contemplating your options for dissolving your marriage, you need legal help. Don’t wait to obtain aggressive advocacy for your family — the wellbeing of you and your loved ones depend on it. Contact our office for assistance today.