If the parties cannot resolve every issue at mediation, there will be a final hearing before a family law judge.  As a good rule of thumb, the total amount you paid your lawyer through the end of mediation is the amount you will owe him or her from that point through the end of the final hearing.  So, if your attorney has billed $7,000 through the end of mediation, you’ll end up owing another $7,000.00 to try the case.  That is something to keep in mind as you sit in mediation.  Another thing to keep in mind is to be prepared to live with the “worst case scenario” at trial.  In other words, can you live with the worst thing the judge can do to you?  At this final hearing, the parties will present documents and testimony to the judge who will assess the credibility of that evidence.  The judge will enter a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage wherein he will resolve all of the issues incapable of resolution between the parties.

If a party believes that the judge ruled contrary to statute or established case law, that party can appeal the issue to the District Court of Appeals.  The deadline for filing an appeal is strictly enforced.  The aggrieved party should discuss the appeal with his or her lawyer immediately following the date of the Final Judgment.

Most divorce attorneys do not file appeals because there are a number of attorneys that concentrate in the area of appeals.  Our office has filed dozens of appeals, and we would be happy to give you advice regarding the appellate process.