Alimony & Spousal Support Mediation
Working through spousal-support questions — whether, how much, and for how long — without the mediator deciding or advocating an outcome.
In person in the Orlando area (Orange, Seminole & Osceola counties) • Virtual throughout Florida
What This Mediation Can Cover
- Whether spousal support is part of the conversation at all
- Amounts, duration, and review points the parties can live with long term
- The interaction between support and property division
- Later-life cases where retirement timelines shape the discussion
How Sessions Typically Work
Support discussions tend to be most productive when both parties' financial pictures are visible. The mediator keeps the conversation forward-moving and balanced; the decisions, with advice of counsel, stay with the parties.
Florida's alimony statutes were significantly amended in 2023; what form and duration of support the law allows is a legal question for counsel. Mediation is where the parties test the terms they can actually live with.
How Alimony Gets Discussed in Mediation
Alimony is one of the more financially complex parts of a divorce, and Florida law doesn’t reduce it to a simple formula — it depends on the specifics of the marriage, the finances, and what both parties are willing to agree to. A clear financial picture from both sides is where the conversation starts. In mediation, that means:
- No one calculates a number for the parties. The mediator doesn't say what alimony “should” be or what a fair outcome looks like — that isn't the role, and it wouldn't be neutral.
- The discussion covers what matters to each side — length of the marriage, each person's needs and ability to pay, and what the numbers have to support in real life.
- Outside numbers are welcome. If either side has worked with an attorney, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), or an accountant beforehand, those figures and projections are part of the discussion.
- Any agreement gets reviewed by counsel. Whatever is agreed in session is written up for review by independent counsel before signing — mediation resolves the disagreement, but it isn't the final legal step.
If the situation involves significant assets, retirement accounts to divide, or complex income, speaking with a financial professional before or during the process is often worth it.
What to Have Ready
- Income and budget information
- Retirement account summaries
- Monthly expense reality for each household
When this process is not a fit
Mediation is voluntary and only works when both people can speak for themselves and the conversation can stay balanced. It is usually the wrong tool when there is an injunction or a history of domestic violence that would compromise the process, when assets appear to be hidden, or when a party needs emergency court relief. When mediation is not appropriate →
Counsel remains counsel. Agreed terms are written down for review and drafting by each party’s own attorney. The mediator does not give legal advice, interpret a governing order, or file anything with the court.
Discussing Alimony & Spousal Support
Ready to start? The first step is a short request with basic conflict-check information only — substance comes after the conflict check clears.
Request Mediation← All family mediation services
How is alimony actually calculated? Explained →
Related: property & debt division mediation →
Related: gray divorce & later-life mediation →
Florida's 2023 alimony reform, explained →