Introduction Divorce can be a complex and emotionally taxing process, especially when it comes to the division of assets and finances. In Florida, as a divorce mediator, I’ve observed that a critical step in achieving a fair and amicable resolution is the process of financial disclosure. This article aims to guide you through the importance of financial disclosure in divorce mediation and how to approach it effectively. Understanding Financial Disclosure Financial disclosure involves the exchange of complete and accurate information about each party’s financial situation. This includes income ..read more

The Alimony Reform Bill in Florida, effective July 1, 2023, eliminates permanent alimony and sets clear,  definitive guidelines when considering and calculating the amount of alimony in Florida. Before alimony reform passed in Florida alimony, there was no fixed formula. Alimony reform applies to all initial petitions for dissolution of marriage or support unconnected with dissolution of marriage pending or filed on or after July 1, 2023. Alimony, or spousal support, is a legal obligation on a person to provide financial support to their spouse before, during or after divorce. The obligat ..read more

Divorce is a difficult life period for everyone involved. Spouses and their families (especially children) often carry the emotional burden of separation for the rest of their lives. Florida divorce rates have consistently been higher than the national rates over the past decade.  Some of the reasons may be financial insecurity and unemployment to lack of communication to the COVID-19 pandemic-related challenges. In this blog post, you will learn about Florida’s divorce trends over the last decade, the main reasons leading to a divorce in a Sunshine State, and the divorce mediator role in ..read more

Divorcing homeowners need to make informed decisions regarding the equity in the marital residence and mortgage financing opportunities during and after their divorce.   Mortgage financing options available to the homeowners must be adequately incorporated in the details and clarity of a marital settlement agreement.  It is important to identify divorce mortgage options and incorporate these options into the settlement agreement. Deciding where to live is an essential aspect of divorce. Some people want to stay in their family home, either because they are comfortable there or b ..read more

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. “Six” is a hit musical, a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII presented as a pop concert. The Queens take turns singing and telling their story to see who suffered the most due to Henry and should, therefore, become the group’s lead singer. We all know how Henry VIII’s wives died, but do we know anything about how they lived their lives? Each of these women were accomplished and strong characters, and this work gives them the opportunity to shine as they each deserved. It’s performed as a fictional singing competi ..read more

As we move into 2023, I expect that online mediation will continue to be even more commonplace. As life begins to look a bit more normal, Deborah Beylus and South Florida Mediation Services want you all to be aware of the change in Rule 12.740 relative to in person mediations (amended through November 17, 2022). Every effort must be made to expedite mediation of family issues. Such referral, or written stipulation of the parties, may provide for mediation or arbitration in person, remotely via audio or audio video communication technology, or a combination thereof. https://casetext.com/rule/fl ..read more

Without exception, divorcing clients want to move on with their lives as quickly as possible after they complete the financial negotiations of their divorce. Moving on includes taking control of their own finances. There is a long list of things to do in order to take control of post-divorce finances before the divorce is truly final. To avoid some common financial pitfalls of divorce, I suggest you have your clients address the following:  Insurance – Make sure that your clients won’t have a gap in health insurance coverage. If they were covered by their former spouse’s company plan, ma ..read more

Divorce is the largest financial transaction a couple will make in their lifetime.  Most divorcing couples feel as if they’ve taken a financial beating during the divorce and long after it is over. Even if the breakup is amicable, dividing assets takes a financial toll.  Every marriage and financial situation are different.  But how much a divorce ultimately costs can depend on the couple’s actions and choices. The average cost of a divorce in Florida is roughly fifteen thousand ($15,000.00) dollars per couple.  Costs can include attorney fees, mediation fees and filing fee ..read more

When it comes to divorce and the division of assets, not all assets are equal.  A dollar in a retirement account does not equal a dollar in an investment account which does not equal a cash dollar. Similarly, money owed to a family member does not equal an IRS tax lien which does not equal a student loan. The equitable distribution process in divorce mediation using various valuation methods and techniques used to properly identify and distribute marital assets and debts in a divorce. There is a process to divide assets and in divorce mediation, which includes the following ..read more

The Florida Academy of Professional Mediators (TFAPM) is pleased to announce the recipients of the Mel Rubin Memorial Award of Merit and the Susan Dubow Service Award for 2021. Deborah Beylus is the winner of the Mel Rubin Memorial Award of Merit. Ms. Beylus has been certified by the Florida Supreme Court for over ten years. She is certified in Family, Circuit Civil, County, and Dependency. A former senior equity analyst for one of the largest financial firms, she is also a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst. In addition to her mediation practice (South Florida Mediation Services), she has se ..read more