"What if we try divorce mediation and it doesn't work out? Do we have to go to court, or are there other options?"

Sometimes, pro se divorce mediation -- which means mediation in which the spouses are not represented by lawyers -- does not work because the parties do not have enough information about their legal rights and obligations. I would recommend that anyone going through a divorce consult with a divorce attorney so that they have an understanding of these rights and obligations. Perhaps both of you should consult with attorneys and see whether the advice you receive changes one or both of your opinions about issues in disagreement.

Lori Barkus is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator and Circuit Civil Mediator and is a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals as well as a member of the Board of Directors for the Collaborative Family Lawyers of South Florida. Her office is located in Weston, FL. This divorce attorney can be reached at (954) 349-7988. View her Divorce Magazine profile.