Mediation is a structured negotiation process in which a neutral third party — the mediator — helps divorcing spouses reach agreement on the issues in their case. I am a Florida Supreme Court–certified family court mediator, and mediation is one of the two main focuses of my Jacksonville practice. I can serve as your neutral mediator, or I can represent you as an advocate in mediation with a different mediator.
Why Mediation Is Usually the Right First Step
Florida courts require most family-law cases to attend mediation before trial. There is a reason for that requirement: mediation works. Nationally, 70 to 80 percent of family-law mediations result in a complete or partial settlement. Even when mediation does not fully resolve a case, it almost always narrows the issues and saves money at trial.
The benefits, compared to contested litigation, are substantial:
- Cost:A full-day mediation typically costs each party a few hundred to a few thousand dollars — a fraction of what contested litigation costs.
- Speed: Mediation can be scheduled within weeks and wraps up in a single day or two. Contested cases drag on for a year or more.
- Privacy: Mediation communications are confidential under Florida Statutes §44.405. Nothing said in mediation can be used against you later.
- Control: You and your spouse make the decisions. If you cannot agree in mediation, a judge who knows almost nothing about your family will decide for you.
- Relationships: Especially important for co-parents, mediation preserves the ability to communicate after the case closes.
- Flexibility: Mediated agreements can include creative, tailored solutions a judge cannot order.
Issues Mediation Can Address
Essentially any issue that can be decided by a family-law court can be resolved in mediation:
- Equitable distribution of marital property and debts
- Alimony — type, amount, duration
- Child support
- Time-sharing schedules and parenting plans
- Parental relocation
- Post-judgment modifications of any of the above
- Valuation and division of businesses
- Treatment of retirement accounts and pensions
How a Mediation Session Works
A typical Jacksonville family-law mediation runs half a day to a full day. Each side and their attorney (if represented) work in separate rooms. The mediator shuttles back and forth, exploring positions, identifying priorities, and helping each side understand the other's concerns. When agreement is reached, the mediator drafts a Mediated Settlement Agreement that both parties sign. The agreement is filed with the court and made part of the final judgment.
Mediation Before Litigation Even Starts
You do not need to have a pending court case to mediate. I frequently help couples mediate and finalize their divorce without ever filing a contested petition — effectively turning what might have been a contested case into an uncontested divorce. This is the fastest, cheapest, and least stressful route for families who think they might have disagreements but are willing to try to resolve them with help.
Collaborative Divorce: A Related Alternative
If you and your spouse want a structured out-of-court process but need more than a one-day mediation, collaborative divorce offers a more comprehensive team-based approach.
My Mediator Credentials
- Florida Supreme Court–certified family court mediator
- Florida Supreme Court appellate mediator
- Member, The Florida Bar (since 1996)
- Member, State Bar of Georgia
- 25+ years practicing family law exclusively
Related Practice Areas
To schedule a mediation or discuss representation in mediation, call 904-858-4334 or contact me online.