PARENTING & FAMILY AGREEMENTS
Sometimes You Just
Need to Resolve One Issue.
Mediation does not have to involve an entire divorce or a long list of disputes. If you and the other person have one issue — or a handful of issues — that need to be worked through, focused family mediation may be an option.
I serve as a neutral mediator. I do not represent either participant or provide either participant with legal advice.
MEDIATION CAN BE AS FOCUSED AS THE ISSUE
We agree on almost everything.
We just cannot resolve this.
MEDIATION IS NOT ONLY FOR DIVORCE
You do not need an entire case to have something worth resolving.
Families sometimes encounter a specific disagreement that they cannot resolve on their own. It may involve a parenting schedule, a holiday, school, travel, expenses, communication, property or another practical issue.
Instead of allowing one disagreement to become a larger conflict, mediation provides a structured setting to identify the problem, discuss each person's concerns and explore whether a workable agreement can be reached.
A FLEXIBLE MEDIATION OPTION
Who can use focused family mediation?
The process can be useful in many different family situations.
Unmarried Parents
Parents do not have to be married or going through divorce to use mediation to discuss parenting-related issues.
Separated Parents
Parents who are living separately may want to establish practical expectations before conflict grows.
Divorced Parents
Existing arrangements may no longer work as well as they once did. Mediation can be used to discuss possible agreed changes.
People With a Pending Case
Even when a court case already exists, the parties may still be able to resolve individual issues through mediation.
People Without a Court Case
A lawsuit does not have to exist before two people can sit down with a mediator and try to reach an agreement.
People Who Mostly Agree
Mediation can be especially useful when most issues are already resolved but one or two disagreements remain.
EXAMPLES OF FOCUSED MEDIATION
One problem does not have to become an entire family-law battle.
These are examples of issues that may be appropriate for discussion in mediation.
Parenting Schedules
- Weekday schedules
- Weekend schedules
- Pick-up and drop-off times
- Schedule adjustments
Holidays & Vacations
- Holiday rotations
- School breaks
- Summer schedules
- Vacation planning
School & Activities
- School-related decisions
- Extracurricular activities
- Transportation
- Scheduling conflicts
Travel
- Out-of-state travel
- International travel
- Notice expectations
- Travel information
Communication
- Parent-to-parent communication
- Communication with children
- Information sharing
- Boundaries and expectations
Children's Expenses
- Medical expenses
- Activity expenses
- School expenses
- Reimbursement procedures
Property & Financial Issues
- A specific debt
- A particular account
- Personal property
- Other isolated financial disputes
Something Unique to Your Family
- Family-specific concerns
- Practical arrangements
- Unresolved agreement terms
- Other appropriate family issues
Not every issue is appropriate for mediation, and some agreements may require additional legal steps or court approval before they become legally effective.
A SMALLER DISPUTE DOES NOT REQUIRE A SMALLER PROCESS
Focus on the issue that actually needs attention.
Identify the Issue
Define what actually needs to be resolved rather than reopening every disagreement between the participants.
Discuss Concerns
Each participant has an opportunity to explain concerns, priorities and practical considerations.
Explore Options
The participants work through possible solutions with a neutral mediator facilitating the discussion.
Document Agreement
If an agreement is reached, the terms can be reduced to writing for review and appropriate signatures.
FOR EXAMPLE
Most of the parenting plan works. Summer vacation does not.
The parents may agree on the regular school-year schedule, holidays, transportation and decision-making but continue to disagree about how summer vacation should work.
They do not necessarily need to renegotiate their entire parenting arrangement. Mediation can focus on the summer issue and determine whether they can develop terms that work for both households.
MEDIATION IS NOT ALL OR NOTHING
Resolve what you can.
Sometimes the parties bring several issues to mediation but only reach agreement on some of them.
That does not mean the mediation failed. The issues that are resolved can be documented while the remaining issues stay open for further discussion or another method of resolution.
EXAMPLE
Holiday schedule resolved
Transportation resolved
School issue remains unresolved
STRAIGHTFORWARD PRICING
$225 / hour
Mediation is typically scheduled in two-hour blocks.
A two-hour session is $450 total.
When the cost is divided equally, that is typically $225 per participant.
Some focused disputes may require only limited mediation time, while others may require additional sessions.
View Full Pricing →MY ROLE
Neutral mediator.
Your decisions.
My role is to facilitate communication, identify the issue, help organize the discussion and assist the participants in exploring possible resolutions.
I do not represent either participant, provide legal advice, advocate for either side or decide what the outcome should be.
Either participant may obtain independent legal, financial, tax or other professional advice whenever appropriate.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Focused family mediation FAQ
Can we mediate just one issue?
Yes. Mediation does not have to address an entire divorce or parenting case. If there is one specific issue that both participants are willing to discuss, the mediation can focus on that issue.
Do we have to be married or divorced?
No. Mediation may also be useful for unmarried parents or other family situations where two people need help working through an appropriate family-related issue.
Can we mediate an issue after our divorce is already finished?
Mediation can be used to discuss proposed changes to existing arrangements when both participants are willing to participate. Depending on the issue, additional legal procedures or court approval may be necessary for a change to become effective.
What if we resolve one issue but not another?
Mediation is not necessarily all or nothing. Issues that are resolved may be documented while unresolved issues remain open for another form of resolution.
Do we need attorneys?
No. Participants may mediate without attorneys. Either person may also consult an independent attorney before, during or after mediation.
Does the mediator decide who is right?
No. I remain neutral and do not decide the dispute. The participants determine whether an agreement is reached and what the terms of that agreement will be.
Is focused mediation confidential?
Florida mediation communications are generally confidential, subject to applicable legal exceptions. A written agreement reached during mediation may be treated differently from the confidential negotiations themselves.
ONE ISSUE MAY BE ENOUGH
You do not have to wait until a small disagreement becomes a large dispute.
Schedule a free consultation to discuss the issue and determine whether focused mediation may be appropriate for your situation.
Schedule a Free Consultation Virtual family mediation available throughout Florida.