Family Law Mediation

Family Law Mediator in the Florida Keys

An Alternative to the Costs of Litigation

At my law office, I work closely with clients who want to resolve family law disputes through mediation, rather than the adversarial process of litigation. I have over 20 years of experience representing clients throughout the Florida Keys as a mediator and as a family law attorney.

Contact me to set up a confidential meeting to discuss your needs and if mediation is the right fit to resolving your family law matter.

What Is Mediation?

Mediation is generally a more cost-effective and amicable way of resolving legal disputes than litigation or arbitration. In mediation, a neutral third party acts as an intermediary, encouraging both sides to find common ground in an effort to resolve a dispute. A mediator does not take testimony from witnesses, does not rule on legal issues such as evidence and does not make any determination of right and wrong. The mediator works to get the parties to come to an agreement. If the parties come to an agreement, the terms become part of a contract that may be enforceable in court.

How Does Mediation Work?

In mediation, each side presents its version of the facts and the problem to the mediator. The mediator listens and attempts to identify those facts upon which the parties agree. The mediator also works with the parties to identify the specific results that are most important to each party and what they would be willing to give up to obtain those specific results. At this point, mediation can become a negotiating process, with a neutral third party facilitating the negotiation.

Mediation and Arbitration

In arbitration, the arbitrator or arbitration panel has knowledge of the law, examine the evidence, listen to legal arguments and issue a ruling in favor of one of the parties. The ruling may or may not be binding, based on the agreement of the parties.

How I Can Help You with Mediation For a Family Law Issue

Although I will handle the mediation of any type of civil dispute, I focus on family law matters. As an experienced lawyer and mediator, I understand the types of agreements that the court will approve and which agreements they will reject. I can help you resolve your differences in ways that save you money and time.

I mediate a wide range of family law matters, including all aspects of divorce actions, such as:

• Child custody and visitation
• Child support
• Spousal maintenance
• Division of marital assets and debts
• Bankruptcy and tax issues
• Foreclosure

I work extensively with pro se divorce clients who want to work out reasonable divorce terms without the court's intervention. I often help people who want to represent themselves with the assistance of a lawyer who have an uncontested divorce action. These people often don't need legal advice but do need help working out the final details of their divorce and would like a third party to help facilitate the process. I can also help people prepare pleadings and agreements that you will then file in court yourself.

I know from experience that mediation is often a more desirable means of resolving family law issues, as it tends to preserve important family relationships that are critical to the success of custody, visitation and support arrangements. I also help people with pre and post nuptial agreements.

For an experienced mediator to help you amicably resolve a family law dispute, contact me to schedule a confidential consultation.

Bonnie J. Helms, P.A.
422 Fleming Street
Key West, FL 33040-6529
Phone: (305)292-1166
Alternate Phone: (305)294-3413

Map & Directions

At the law office of Bonnie J. Helms, P.A. in Key West, I represent individuals throughout the Upper Keys and Lower Keys, including Marathon.