By: Daniel M. Copeland, Attorney at Law, P.A.

Many Floridians are breathing a sigh of relief now that the holidays are done for another year. Many Florida residents begin their new year on a positive note: a resolution to lose weight, a decision to quit smoking, or even a decision to get back into touch with old friends. A sense of renewal often accompanies these resolutions.

Others, though, have realized that their marriages are no longer working and have decided to get a divorce after the rush of the holidays is over. Those couples can often benefit from divorce mediation, provided that they can agree to work together to iron out differences smoothly.

Deciding to get a divorce is never an easy decision, even if the holidays were sheer misery when spent together. To discover that one’s life partner no longer wants to be with you is often devastating. To push the pain and anger out of the way to come to an equitable settlement can be difficult, but in the long run, doing so can benefit both parties, not to mention the couple’s children.

Financial issues often arise during divorce proceedings. Child support, alimony, and division of the couple’s property come up often when a couple negotiates a divorce settlement. Although a post-holiday divorce may be emotionally painful, it is financially the ideal time to pursue a settlement, since many of the couple’s accounts will issue them year-end financial statements, which will give them an accurate view of their finances.

After all of the information about the couple’s financial situation has been collected, the couple needs to decide what step to take next. Florida couples who choose divorce mediation for their next step can help them end their marriage in a dignified way that helps both parties come to an equitable settlement.

Divorce mediation is often the most economical way to end a marriage, as well as the most civil. Agreeing to work together, couples can work with mediators to achieve a settlement that benefits both parties without the emotional and financial cost that often results when the proceedings end in a lengthy court battle.

Even more important is the need for couples with children to consider divorce mediation. Because their relationship to the children continues even after the marriage ends, the couple may be better off in the long run if they work with a mediator to resolve issues that arise during the divorce process.

Source: Huff Post, "When Divorce Is A New Year's Resolution," Alton Abramowitz, Dec. 28, 2012