NEW THIS MONTH

In addition to directing you to Christian lawyers for hire, the Jacksonville Christian Lawyer Directory provides two forms of free legal information. Our member lawyers participate in a weekly radio program, heard in Jacksonville, Florida on 88.1 FM or anywhere in the world via online broadcast streaming at www.ilovethepromise.com. This page lists the legal topics that will be discussed in this month's programs.

Additionally, every month the Jacksonville Christian Lawyer Directory will post to its website new frequently asked questions summarizing legal issues. This month's FAQs are listed below. Prior questions are found on the FAQ Archives page, indexed according to legal fields.

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THIS MONTH'S FEATURED FAQs

WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS FOR GETTING A DIVORCE IN FLORIDA?
Florida is a "no fault" state. Therefore, a spouse does not have to prove marital misconduct, such as adultery to obtain a divorce. A judge will grant a divorce as long as one spouse alleges that the marriage is "irretrievably broken"; that is the marriage cannot be repaired or maintained. A judge may order marital counseling if children are involved and one of the spouses objects to the divorce; however, as long as one spouse continues to believe (despite counseling) that the marriage is irretrievably broken, a judge will eventually grant the divorce.

WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation is a process where a neutral person (the mediator) helps disputing parties explore their differences and see if they can settle the matter peacefully through compromise. While the mediator guides the dialogue and process, the parties make the ultimate decisions. By contrast, at trial the jury or judge decides the final result. Thus, while mediation is not the last chance the parties have to control the outcome, it is often the last best chance for them to do so, given the other factors that are unique to the mediation process.

WHEN CAN A DISPUTE BE MEDIATED?
Initially, mediation was only used in litigation, when ordered by a judge. Not any more. Parties can agree to mediate their disagreements at any time, and many are seeing the wisdom in getting a mediator’s assistance early in the dispute, before it escalates into a formal lawsuit. In Florida, the rules and laws regarding mediation apply whenever the mediation occurs – during, before or after litigation.