Take the Mystery, Stress, and Conflict

Divorce is never an easy process, and it can often be fraught with emotional and financial turmoil. But at PeacefulSplit.com, we believe that your divorce doesn't have to be a battlefield. Eric is an experienced and compassionate divorce mediator ready to help guide you and your spouse through the divorce mediation process, ensuring a smoother, more amicable resolution for both parties involved.

What is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process that allows couples going through a divorce to negotiate their settlement in a more collaborative and non-adversarial manner. This is achieved through the assistance of a neutral third-party professional, known as a divorce mediator. The mediator helps the couple communicate effectively, resolve their differences, and come to a mutually agreeable resolution on key issues such as child custody, property division, and spousal support. Eric works with both spouses in a collaborative process to peacefully settle divorce issues.

The Benefits of Divorce Mediation

Choosing divorce mediation over traditional litigation can provide numerous benefits for both you and your spouse. Here are just a few reasons why you should consider mediation for your divorce:

1.) Cost-effective: Divorce mediation is almost always less expensive than hiring lawyers and going through the court system. By avoiding legal fees and minimizing the time for the divorce process, you can save a significant amount of money.

2.) Time-saving: This collaborative mediation process can be resolved much faster than litigation, as it doesn't require lengthy court procedures and scheduling.  Avoid a lengthy litigated divorce. Avoid the expense of paying the hourly rates of multiple lawyers and other professionals using a collaborative divorce process. Mediation is efficient, cost-effective, and peaceful.

3.) Confidentiality: Divorce mediation is a private process that takes place outside of the courtroom. This means that your negotiations and settlement discussions are kept confidential.

4.) Control: In mediation, you and your spouse have the power to make decisions about your own lives, rather than leaving those decisions in the hands of a judge.

5.) Reduced conflict: A divorce mediator helps foster open communication and cooperation between you and your spouse, reducing the level of conflict and enabling a more PeacefulSplit® that is a fair outcome for both spouses.

6.) Better outcomes for children: Research has shown that children fare better in divorce situations when their parents can resolve their issues amicably through mediation, as it often leads to more stable and cooperative co-parenting arrangements.

7.) Flexibility: Divorce mediation can be tailored to meet the unique needs of your situation, giving you the freedom to find creative solutions that work best for your family.

At PeacefulSplit.com, Eric understands that every divorce is unique, and he is committed to providing personalized, supportive services to help you navigate this difficult time. Here's an overview of his peaceful divorce process:

1.) Initial consultation: Eric is always available, by phone, email, and text, to discuss mediation, your unique situation, answer any questions you may have about divorce mediation, and determine if his services are a good fit for your needs.

2.) Pre-mediation preparation: Once you decide to proceed with mediation, Eric will send you and your spouse an agreement to retain his mediation services. After the agreement is signed by both spouses, a mutually convenient date and time will be set for the first mediation session. Eric will send each of you some financial forms to complete online, and an agenda of topics that will be discussed and negotiated. 

3.) Mediation sessions: You and your spouse will attend the first mediation session (held either via Zoom or in-person in Eric's Boca Raton office). The first session is scheduled for a maximum of 3-hours. Followup sessions will be scheduled, as needed. During the session(s), Eric will guide you through discussions on key issues, helping you work towards a mutually acceptable agreement. In Eric's experience of handling over 300 mediations, about 65%-70% of mediations resolve all issues in the very first session!

4.) Drafting the divorce settlement agreement: Once you've reached an agreement on all issues, Eric will draft a detailed and personal written settlement agreement which documents the terms and conditions of your agreed upon divorce settlement.

5.) Review and finalization: You and your spouse will have the opportunity to review the draft agreement(s) and make any necessary changes before signing. Once the agreement(s) is signed and notarized, it is a binding settlement of the divorce issues. At that time, all you need to do is go on the court's website, download the fill-in-the-blank packet of forms for an uncontested (i.e., settled) divorce, complete the forms, and then file the forms with the court and pay the State of Florida its required $409 filing fee.  In about a month or two, the Judge will issue the final judgment of divorce - which will include the terms and conditions set forth in the settlement agreement(s) that Eric drafted for you as a result of the mediation. 

If you're considering divorce mediation, you may have questions about the process and what to expect. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers to help you gain a better understanding of mediation:

Q.) Can we use divorce mediation if we don't agree on everything?
A.) Absolutely. The purpose of divorce mediation is to help you and your spouse reach an agreement on contentious issues. Even if you don't initially agree on everything, a skilled divorce mediator can facilitate constructive discussions and help you work towards a mutually acceptable resolution.

Q.) What is your background?

A.) Eric is an attorney with over 29+ years of experience. He is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, and is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  As mediator, Eric does not serve as your lawyer, nor does he ever represent spouses as a divorce attorney. He is strictly focused and dedicated being a neutral, compassionate and peaceful-focused mediator.

Q.) Is divorce mediation legally binding?
A.) The mediation process itself is not legally binding. However, once you and your spouse reach an agreement and sign the written document, it becomes a legally binding contract. After submitting the agreement to the court and obtaining approval, the terms of your agreement will be enforceable under the law. 

Q.) How much does Divorce Mediation cost?

A.) Eric is a neutral divorce mediator who charges a predictable flat-fee of only $2,200.00 per couple for his services. This includes his mediation time, communications, and the drafting and editing of the settlement agreements.

Q.) What if we can't reach an agreement through mediation?
A.) If you and your spouse are unable to reach an agreement during mediation, you still have the option to pursue a traditional divorce through the court system. Eric may also provide recommendations for additional resources or professionals to help address any unresolved issues. What is most important to know is that while the goal of mediation is to settle all issues, even where that is not possible due to good-faith disagreements, you can still have a partially successful mediation experience. In such a case, instead of the agreement settling all of the divorce issues, it would settle almost all of the divorce issues and you would then ask the court to limit its involvement to resolving the open issue.

Q.) Do I need a lawyer for divorce mediation?
A.) While it's not required to have a lawyer for divorce mediation, you may choose to consult with one to better understand your legal rights and ensure that your interests are protected throughout the process. However, Eric's PeacefulSplit® Divorce Mediation service is only available to spouses where each agrees not to be represented by an attorney (although you are always free to seek an attorney's advice in a consultation role).

Q.) How long does divorce mediation take?
A.) The duration of divorce mediation varies depending on the complexity of your situation and how quickly you and your spouse can reach an agreement. Most couples resolve their issues in the very first session, while others may require several mediation sessions. For reference, Eric has never spent more than 10-hours in mediation with any couple.

Q.) Is divorce mediation suitable for high-conflict divorces?
A.) Divorce mediation can be beneficial even in high-conflict situations. Eric, as an experienced and skilled divorce mediator (Eric is also a licensed attorney with 29+ years of experience and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Florida and New York) can help manage the conflict and facilitate productive discussions, allowing both parties to work towards an agreement in a more peaceful and collaborative environment. His unique background makes him expressly qualified to help diffuse tense and stressful negotiations. Please note that he does not work with any couples with their is active domestic violence or any active domestic violence restraining orders.