Family Court Mediation
Mediation is the process where separated parents can reach decisions on everything affecting their lives following a separation and divorce, especially child custody and visitation considerations.
Mediation and Parent Coordination are the most important methods which permit both parents to determine themselves how they wish to parent their children. We find that mediation is most successful when parents mediate without attorneys present.
Mediations are facilitated by a professional mediator who is a State Certified Mediator or otherwise has completed formal mediation training in the State of Florida. Your Mediator will listen to each of the parents, and help the parties come to an agreement which will then be brought to Court for ratification.
By reaching a settlement through mediation, the parties then have completed an agreement that they want, not what the Court would want. Also, court and attorney costs are avoided or minimized. Meetings are confidential, and no one other than the parties and their counsel, if they have attorney representation, may attend the mediation process.
There is no record kept by the mediator of the discussions. There is no legal advice given in this process. The parties themselves have the opportunity to voice their concerns, their expectations, their abilities to come to an agreement with their former spouse.
Mediation is a wonderful opportunity for both parents to voice their concerns without judgment, and to achieve resolution of what would otherwise be a very emotional and financial expense.
Mediations can be scheduled to accommodate the time constraints of the parties.
Family Mediation: Prepayment for 2 hours required. Additional hours will be billed per session and session fees must be paid in full before continuing further sessions. Payment in full required for hours prior to mediator providing the final mediated Parenting Plan and/or MSA (Marriage Settlement Agreement).
Parenting Coordination: Retainer of $1200 required prior to scheduling first appointment. As hourly fees accumulate, retainer will be expended and coordinator or Toby Center will notify the client of additional funds due to continuing the services.
The State of Florida mandates at least one hour of mediation to attempt a co-parenting agreement for child-rearing and child custody before coming to Court for further assistance.
To Schedule Mediation, contact us toll-free at (855) 862-9236
Income Based Sliding Scale Fees:
above $80,000 ……………. $275 per hour
$60,000 to $79,000 ……………. $225 per hour
$40,000 – $59,000 ……………. $175 per hour
$30,000 – $49,000 ……………. $125 per hour
Less than $30,000 ……………. $110 per hour