For Referring Attorneys

Why Refer a Matter Here

• Defined scope: family matters only, subject to any applicable court order.
• Self-determination preserved: the parties decide; nothing is imposed. Your role as counsel is never displaced — the mediator does not give legal advice or represent either side.
• Written fee terms up front: $250/hour total, commonly divided between the parties, with fee and cancellation terms provided in writing before anything is scheduled. No contingency fees.
• Practical scheduling: virtual sessions throughout Florida, in-person in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties, and selected evening and Saturday appointments.
• Bilingual sessions: English or Spanish, so neither party is disadvantaged by language.

How a Referral Works

• Initial contact: names of parties and counsel, case number if filed, county, and the general matter type — enough for a conflict check, nothing substantive.
• Conflict check: completed before any substantive discussion.
• Scheduling and fees: availability, written fee terms, and session instructions are coordinated with counsel and the parties.
• The session: joint discussion, private caucus, or a combination, typically two to four hours.
• Closure: any terms reached are memorialized in writing for review and formalization by counsel — your drafting role is respected.
• Reporting: in court-connected matters, reporting is limited to the outcome (agreement, partial agreement, or no agreement) and does not include opinions about the parties.

Elder-Law and Estate Counsel

Later-life divorces often reach an elder-law or estate attorney before a family lawyer — homestead questions, long-term-care concerns, or stale beneficiary designations surface alongside the marriage. If you are counseling a client through a later-life separation, later-life divorce mediation keeps the division decisions with the parties while your planning work proceeds alongside. Homestead protections, Medicaid eligibility, and estate documents remain your terrain; the mediation room stays on the terms the parties must decide.

The Self-Represented Landscape Your Referrals Land In

Most family matters now involve at least one self-represented party, and the courts they walk into are building programs for them. The Florida Supreme Court’s Steering Committee on Families and Children in the Court publishes Promising Practices for Local Programs Assisting Self-Represented Litigants in Family Cases (December 2025) — a circuit-by-circuit survey of what self-help programs, court staff boundaries, and form assistance actually look like on the ground. Useful context when advising a client who will be navigating that system alongside the mediation, and when a matter needs the court’s self-help resources more than it needs motion practice.

Status

George Quinones is currently completing Florida Supreme Court family mediator training and mentorship. Early conversations with counsel are welcome now — sessions open once certification is complete.