Focus on the future – not the fight.
Brenda Evans, Owner/Mediator
Chris Shulman, Attorney/Mediator
Chris Shulman, Attorney/Mediator
Focusing on family mediation and business/healthcare disputes, Brenda has worked as an ADR Professional since 2014. In 2017, she opened Tampa Friendly Divorce, Inc., which specializes in providing a peaceful, affordable, and often quicker path to dissolution of marriage specifically for the subset of divorcing Florida couples who are inte
Focusing on family mediation and business/healthcare disputes, Brenda has worked as an ADR Professional since 2014. In 2017, she opened Tampa Friendly Divorce, Inc., which specializes in providing a peaceful, affordable, and often quicker path to dissolution of marriage specifically for the subset of divorcing Florida couples who are interested in an uncontested divorce via a pre-suit mediation forum specifically designed for pro se divorce clients.
An MBA sales management professional with over 25 years of progressive corporate responsibility and proven business achievements in the Pharmaceutical industry, Brenda now leverages her award-winning change management and persuasive communication skills as an Alternative Dispute Resolution professional since 2014.
Brenda is a Florida Supreme Court certified Family, Circuit, and County Mediator; a Primary Trainer for Circuit and County Mediation; and an Assistant Trainer for Family Mediation.
Chris Shulman, Attorney/Mediator
Chris Shulman, Attorney/Mediator
Chris Shulman, Attorney/Mediator
An attorney for more than 30 years, Chris has focused his practice on service as a neutral since 2002: helping parties resolve disputes as a mediator, arbitrator, special magistrate and the like.
A member of the National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA), Chris is Regional Chair for NAA's Southeast Region. He is also a panelist for the Ameri
An attorney for more than 30 years, Chris has focused his practice on service as a neutral since 2002: helping parties resolve disputes as a mediator, arbitrator, special magistrate and the like.
A member of the National Academy of Arbitrators (NAA), Chris is Regional Chair for NAA's Southeast Region. He is also a panelist for the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), Florida and federal courts, and other neutral rosters.
Chris also provides mediator certification training and continuing education, court-appointed arbitrator training. He has had the privilege to serve as an Adjunct Law Professor at his alma mater, Stetson University College of Law for more than 15 years.
Our Philosophy
Divorce is a sad reality. But, it does not have to destroy you! Instead, you can have a friendly divorce.
- Our problem-solving philosophy differs from the tenets of the adversarial attorney-driven divorce process.
- Through our Tampa Friendly Divorce mediation process, you and your spouse can find your way to an uncontested divorce without the unnecessary conflict and emotional turmoil.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to guide you through a process that will save you, our customers, time, money and heartache.
We help Florida couples:
- control their destiny by guiding them through a process where they make their own choices;
- move in a more positive direction;
- side-step the negative nature of the traditional, adversarial divorce;
- problem-solve and reach agreement;
- secure uncontested divorces; and
- find friendlier futures.
Let us empower the two of you to remain in the “Work It Out” column…
Our Process
Pre-suit, pro se Divorce Mediation Team Approach
The mediation model we use at Tampa Friendly Divorce was designed to make the transition of divorce both easier and less expensive. In this unique divorce mediation process, two mediators, Brenda Evans with a business and change management background and Chris Shulman with a legal background, guide you through the decision making process so you control your destiny. Please note, although he is an attorney, Chris cannot provide legal advice to either or both of you.
The purpose of the divorce mediation process is to help you find “PEACE”, to reach a “Marital Settlement Agreement” (MSA) addressing the issues that are common to many divorces:
- Parenting plan or how to co-parent the children of the marriage;
- Equitable division of your assets and debts;
- Alimony or spousal support of some kind (in many cases);
- Child support regarding children of the marriage; and
- Everything else you and your spouse might decide to include.
The process generally takes 4 – 6 weeks from first phone call to signed documents. It can take more time, depending on everyone’s availability and the degree of cooperation between you. Conversely, if you and your spouse work diligently and collaboratively toward a deal, the entire Tampa Friendly Divorce mediation process can take as little as 3 weeks.