Helping Hands Document and Mediation Services  

Telephone Mediation

Some cases may be appropriate for mediation by telephone conferencing.

While Helping Hands Mediation Services strongly prefers mediating cases in-person, some cases may be appropriate for mediation by telephone.

If you meet the criteria outlined below, and prefer mediating by telephone, call Helping Hands Mediation Services to see if your case may qualify for telephone mediation.  

Criteria to qualify for telephone mediation:

• One party lives in another County, of Florida, the other party lives either out of state or in another county at least an hour away.
• Both parties are comfortable negotiating over the telephone.
• The parties are either attending mediation voluntarily, or if mandated by the court, the judge and/or attorneys have approved that mediation take place by telephone.

Fees remain the same whether mediation takes place in person or by phone.  See fees  for more information.  If Telephonic Mediation is being employed, the mediator will still need to meet with at least one of the parties   while the other is on the phone .Therefore only one party can appear by phone for the mediation .

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What is Telephone Divorce Mediation?

Mediation by telephone was utilized   intermittently as an option for parties who are unable to meet together in the mediation room.  The service recognizes the need to provide increased access to mediation and to enable parties who are  separated geographically, to participate in a 3-way conversation in mediation as if they were in the room together .Divorce by Telephone Mediation offers an effective alternative to conventional divorce solutions and their high risk of unnecessary emotional and financial damage. Our mission is to provide skills and support so that people can work together to resolve their disputes while protecting the assets and well-being of the entire family. We offer pragmatic solutions and strategies proven to help minimize the pain, and the wasted time and the money spent on divorce. For many, The Divorce Forum Collaborative Model of mediation using the telephone, can become a part of the healing process which helps families to fulfill their individual and joint needs before moving forward to more peaceful and productive lives. Divorce is one of the most difficult times in life, but is also an opportunity to set the foundation for the future and to learn from the past. We are here to help you. This unique telephone collaborative divorce mediation includes the following components described below:

To find out if mediation is appropriate for you, call us at 727-992-3039 to discuss all your options and concerns.

Divorce Mediation is a process available to help divorcing couples voluntarily work through disagreements in order to fulfill their responsibilities to each other and to their family. They are assisted in working out a mutual agreement on the issues which must be resolved in divorce: parenting, support, and the division of property.

Key Point: The difference between Telephone Divorce Mediation and traditional divorce mediation is that when you and your partner are busy, or if you live in different cities or even states, or if you are unable to meet in a quiet and calm way, telephone mediation is an ideal solution for you.

Who is Mediation for?

1. Couples who have made a decision to divorce
2. Couples who may not have decided to divorce, but who want a legal separation
3. Couples in which one partner is considering divorce
4. Couples with post-divorce decree issues or disputes

What are the benefits of telephonically   mediated divorce?

1. Enables individuals to emerge from a divorce with respect for the partner and with self-respect intact.
2. Protects family relationships
3. Establishes a foundation for continued co-parenting
4. Benefits children, by reducing conflict
5. Focuses on the present and future -- not the past
6. Strengthens commitment to an agreement
7. Is time-limited and convenient
8. Offers an Informal context
9. Avoids public disclosure of personal matters, because it is confidential
10. Parties retain control over process
11. Controls costs, financially and emotionally
12. Is empowering
13. Respects self-determination
14. Save costly expenses of travel.
15. Saves time, loss of work

What are the unique benefits of The Divorce Forum using Telephone Mediation?

You will see how cooperative agreements are generated; and if you will be co-parenting with your former partner, you can begin to learn how to create peaceful solutions yourself without continuing to require the services of a mediator. This can save the average family with small children thousands and thousands of dollars by the time the youngest child reaches 18 years of age.

How does The Divorce Forum Collaborative Model work over the telephone?

1. You will have 3-way telephone calls with your mediator and your partner to work out the major issues raised by the decision to divorce. Your mediator will help identify the issues you need to resolve, and help guide you through the decision-making process toward the most successful agreement that will work for both of you (and for your children).
2. In order to insure that you are making an agreement that meets everyone’s need for fairness and is consistent with the laws in your states.

What are the steps involved?

1. The mediation process is explained to each party during an individual or joint telephone intake conversation.
2. Each party gathers the data needed for the unique decisions inherent in each divorce. In addition to those areas that determine the welfare of minor children, you will both identify the matters you need to decide.

A. You may hire wish to hire private Financial experts for the following:

1. A Divorce Financial Planner or CPA/accountant specializing in dissolution will create the spread sheet and total figures required by each state’s legal system if child support and/or spousal support are issues included in your divorce. Once you have your first telephone meeting with the mediator and your spouse, you will have clarified the issues to be considered. You may opt to use the same financial expert of two different experts so that a compromise may be reached. Your mediator will explain the benefits of each option.
2. Independent real estate, household goods and vehicle appraisal will be sought by each spouse where applicable.
   For families experiencing challenging issues of parenting, a child psychologist may be helpful to support decisions of joint custody.
3. During mediation, you will receive support from your mediator as you consider available options to resolve all your issues.
4. When you have reached an agreement, the Mediation agreement shall be drafted which incorporates the agreements you have both reached. The agreement is binding when and if you decide that you agree on the contents of the mediated agreement. At this time you may also choose to seek legal advice before signing the agreement. This allows you to have the benefits of mediation in saving time and money while also benefiting from legal expertise.
5. The cost for this is normally 1-3 hours of Mediation fees plus the cost of preparing the required forms which accompany the Mediation agreement and parenting plan .Plus standard court filing fees.

What issues are dealt with?

Clients can choose to discuss a wide range of concerns including:

1. Parenting
2. Child Support
3. Property division
4. Spousal support
5. Division of businesses
6. Financial issues including retirement plans

Key Point: Telephone Mediation solves the problem “I'm very angry now! (We can't even talk to each other!)”

It would be unusual if you weren't angry! For many, divorce may be a highly disruptive experience. Mediation is not just for people who are already cooperating. Mediation is often most helpful when you and your partner are having trouble talking on your own. The question is not how you feel now, but where you want to go. Do you want to end up in a no-holds-barred battle, or do you want to reach a peaceful resolution? Would you like to move on to the rest of your life, without bitterness or regrets? If so, we can help you get there. Darlene Brower’s skills with Compassionate Communication allow couples to hear one another, and to consider all the options to meet the needs of the family.