Family Mediation FAQ

The standard rate is $250 per hour total, usually divided between the parties unless another arrangement applies. A two-hour minimum is used for private matters unless otherwise agreed in writing. See the fees page for billing, payment timing, and cancellation terms.

Discounted rates may be available for selected matters. Any discount is confirmed in writing before the session and is not contingent on settlement.

Yes. Sun State Mediator is designed as a virtual-first practice serving appropriate Florida matters by video conference, subject to any applicable court order or rule.

No. Matters may be worked in one joint conversation, in private caucus with each party separately, or a combination — whichever fits the situation. In virtual sessions, caucus happens in separate breakout rooms, and the mediator does not carry information between rooms without permission.

Most sessions run two to four hours. Some matters resolve in a single session; others need more than one, which is planned for rather than treated as a setback. The parties set the pace.

No. A mediator is neutral and does not represent either party, give legal advice, or decide what outcome a party should accept.

Only basic conflict-check and scheduling information: names of parties and attorneys, case number if filed, county, matter type, and preferred dates. Do not send detailed confidential facts before the conflict check.

Mediation is voluntary — a session only happens if both parties are willing to attend. In some court-connected family matters, a court may direct the parties to attend mediation; even then, any agreement remains entirely voluntary. If the other party is unwilling, the matter proceeds outside mediation.

Yes. Mediation before filing is voluntary and happens without a court case, judge, or deadline. If terms are reached, they're written down for each party's attorney to review; filing, if the parties choose it, is handled by counsel. More →

No. Many people mediate without an attorney. The mediator stays neutral and can't advise either person, so it's wise to get at least a limited-scope consultation or a review of any written terms before signing anything that will be filed. More →

Yes, to the extent provided by Florida law. Both parties sign a written agreement to mediate that applies Florida's Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act and explains its exceptions — for example, threats of violence, and the legal duty to report suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. The mediator's working notes are destroyed 30 days after the mediation ends.

Selected evening and Saturday appointments are part of the practice model, subject to availability.

The mediator begins with an orientation covering how the process works, that participation is voluntary, the mediator's neutral role, and the confidentiality of mediation communications to the extent provided by law.

A caucus is a private meeting between the mediator and one party during the session. Matters may be worked jointly, in caucus, or through a combination, depending on what fits the situation.

Terms are written down in a summary for each party's attorney to review. The summary is not a binding contract; if the parties want binding terms, their own attorneys prepare or review that agreement. In court-connected matters, the mediator's reporting is limited to the outcome, such as agreement, partial agreement, or no agreement.

Fees are commonly divided equally unless the parties agree otherwise or an applicable order provides differently. Written fee and cancellation terms are provided before the session, and fees are not contingent on whether the matter settles.

If both parties agree the agreement controls, mediation can focus on the issues it left open. If there is a dispute about whether the agreement is valid or what it means, that question belongs to each party's own attorney — a mediator does not rule on enforceability or interpret specific clauses. Sun State Mediator does not draft, review, or notarize prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.

No. A marital agreement does not replace the separate order a retirement plan requires before benefits can be divided — that step happens through the plan and the court, prepared by counsel, not through the agreement alone.

Yes. Sometimes called “gray divorce,” divorces after 50 often involve longer marriages, retirement accounts, and more complex property division. Mediation offers a private, structured process for working through those decisions, and scheduling can move at a pace that fits the parties.

Mediation is where you reach agreement — it isn't where financial projections get built. If your situation includes a business to value, multiple retirement accounts, real estate beyond the home, a large income gap, or tax questions, speaking with a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), accountant, or advisor beforehand often makes the session faster and less contentious. The mediator doesn't provide financial advice or refer specific professionals — your attorney, or your state's CDFA directory, is the place to start. More →