Many people forget that litigating a divorce in court is not a private process.
In traditional divorce proceedings, you are in a courtroom where the public may be permitted to observe—this includes family, friends, enemies, co-workers, neighbors, the media. Anyone can sit in the courtroom and hear your proverbial dirty laundry. The private details of your marriage and your impending divorce could ultimately be on full display. To say this could be incredibly humiliating to you, your spouse, and your children would be an understatement.
Divorce mediation is confidential.
On the other hand, the mediation process is completely confidential (with few exceptions to include domestic violence, child/elder abuse and neglect and criminal conduct). This means all communications, including meeting notes, documentation, and terms (offered or rejected) remain secure. Even information disclosed to your mediator cannot be shared with your spouse without your consent.
Consider the confidential process of mediation.
It is par for the course that during a divorce, you will be sharing the most intimate details of your life and marriage with your chosen professional. Unless you are also comfortable potentially sharing those details with the public, you might consider the confidential process of mediation as an alternative to divorce litigation.
Attorney O’Connor is a Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator and is available to serve you in Tampa Bay, Brandon, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Plant City, Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, Polk County and Osceola County.
