alimony

 As a divorce attorney with a premier family law firm, Melissa Gallivan witnessed first-hand the damage that the court-centered, adversarial divorce process can cause to the emotional and financial well-being of parties to a divorce. That is why her practice is now devoted exclusively to working with both parties as a neutral and impartial mediator.

Mediating your divorce, instead of litigating it through the court system, reduces conflict and saves money and time.

You can mediate with or without an attorney, depending upon your preference.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING DIVORCE MEDIATION?

Melissa meets with both parties and provides information about how to obtain a divorce in Florida. If the parties decide to move forward with a divorce, she helps them identify areas of concern, explore mutually acceptable solutions, and gather the information they feel is necessary to determine the following:

Division of Assets and Liabilities
Support
Time-sharing and Parental Responsibility

If they are able to reach an agreement on all issues, Melissa prepares a formal Settlement Agreement and, if children are involved, a Parenting Plan and Child Support Guidelines. She also assists with the preparation of the remainder of the documents that the court requires.  The complete package can then be filed with the court and a short hearing scheduled to finalize the divorce.  The hearing usually takes 5-10 minutes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Judges usually order parties to a contested divorce to try mediation before allowing them to go to trial.  This can occur even after the parties have endured protracted, expensive legal battles, battles which they may have been able to resolve more quickly and with less cost by working with a neutral mediator.  Therefore, making an appointment to mediate your divorce before you file with the court or soon after is wise.   Note that mediation, even if it is court ordered, is voluntary; you always retain the right to suspend mediation and litigate your case in court.

Mediations are conducted in person at offices in Clearwater and Tampa. You can also mediate from anywhere in Florida by online zoom video conference.

To learn more, go to gallivanmediation.com.

You may also contact Melissa Gallivan for a free consultation. [email protected] 727-314-3453

Melissa Gallivan’s Education and Experience:

College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA, B.A. English

Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA, J.D., cum laude

Law Clerk, Massachusetts Probate and Family Court

Associate, White, Inker, Aronson, P.C., Premier Boston Divorce Litigation Firm

Owner, Law Office of Melissa A. Gallivan, Foxboro, MA

Owner, Gallivan Mediation, Clearwater and Tampa, FL

Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator

BENEFITS OF MEDIATING WITH GALLIVAN MEDIATION

Affordable, efficient mediation services.

Free phone consultations.  Both parties can ask questions about the process and decide if divorce mediation is right for them.

Weekend and Evening appointments.

If there are children involved, mediation fosters an ongoing, working relationship between parents.

Mediation is a confidential process, unlike public court hearings and trials.

Studies have shown that parties are more likely to adhere to a separation agreement which they developed themselves and which reflects their personal circumstances.

The alternative to mediation is to leave your future in the hands of a busy judge and court system.

In-person divorce mediation services are available for couples living in the Tampa Bay area, including in the following communities: Clearwater, Tampa, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, Pinellas Park, Belleair, Safety Harbor, Tarpon Springs, Lutz, Thonotosassa, Odessa, Temple Terrace, Carrollwood, Citrus Park, Westchase, Cheval and Northdale.  By Zoom throughout Florida.