Resolve Your Family Issues Without a Courtroom Fight
Neutral. Practical. Solution Focused.Work directly with a neutral family mediator in Florida remotely to sort out your divorce, custody, and parenting schedules together, often without the high cost of hiring your own lawyers.
Clay Owens
Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
Kids-First™ Certified Mediator
Member of The Florida Bar
Serving as a neutral mediator — not as an attorney for either party. No attorney‑client relationship is created, and each party is free to consult an independent attorney of their own choosing at any time.
FLORIDA FAMILY MEDIATION
Resolve Family Issues Without Starting With a Courtroom Fight.
Virtual family mediation for Florida couples and parents who want a practical, private way to work through divorce, parenting, financial, property, and other family issues.
A DIFFERENT WAY FORWARD
You Do Not Have to Begin With Litigation.
Many families assume divorce or parenting disputes have to begin with attorneys taking opposing positions and a judge eventually deciding what happens. For families who are able to communicate and negotiate, mediation can provide another path.
Florida Family Mediation helps couples and parents work through family issues with the assistance of a neutral mediator. Mediation can take place before a court case is filed or while a family case is already pending.
The goal is not to decide who is right or wrong. The goal is to identify the issues, understand each person's concerns, explore possible solutions, and determine whether the parties can reach agreements that work for their family.
MEDIATION SERVICES
Family Mediation for Divorce, Parenting and Family Disputes
Florida Family Mediation provides virtual mediation throughout Florida for families who want to resolve some or all of their issues outside of contested litigation.
Pre-Filing Divorce Mediation
You do not have to wait for a judge to order mediation. Couples may mediate before filing for divorce and work toward agreements concerning parenting, finances, property, debts, and other issues.
Divorce With Minor Children
Mediation can address parenting plans, timesharing, parental responsibility, holidays, school issues, child-related expenses, property, debts, and other divorce-related matters.
Divorce Without Minor Children
Couples can use mediation to address property distribution, debts, the marital home, retirement accounts, financial issues, and other matters involved in ending the marriage.
Parenting & Family Agreements
Parents do not have to be married to use mediation. Mediation can help resolve parenting schedules, decision-making, transportation, travel, school, holidays, and other parenting concerns.
Court-Ordered Mediation
Family mediation is also available when a case has already been filed and the parties have been ordered or have agreed to participate in mediation.
Partial Agreements
Mediation is not all-or-nothing. If you resolve some issues but not others, the agreed issues can be documented while the remaining disputes continue through the court process.
HOW MEDIATION WORKS
What Should I Expect During Family Mediation?
The process is designed to be straightforward. You do not need to understand every legal or procedural issue before contacting me.
Free Initial Consultation
Each person has an opportunity to speak with me about the mediation process, ask questions, and determine whether mediation is appropriate for the situation.
Prepare for Mediation
The parties gather information relevant to the issues being discussed. Depending on the case, this may include financial records, mortgage statements, retirement accounts, titles, parenting schedules, and other documents.
Meet Virtually
Mediation sessions are conducted virtually, so parties throughout Florida can participate without traveling to a mediator's office.
Work Through the Issues
I help identify the issues, organize the discussion, clarify concerns, and assist both parties in exploring possible resolutions. I remain neutral throughout the process.
Document Agreements
If agreements are reached, they can be reduced to writing. The parties may resolve every issue or reach a partial agreement on only some issues.
MEDIATION VS. LITIGATION
Why Do Florida Families Choose Mediation?
More Control
In mediation, the parties decide whether to accept a proposed resolution instead of asking a judge to make every decision for the family.
Potentially Lower Cost
Resolving issues through mediation may reduce the amount of contested litigation, attorney time, hearings, and trial preparation required.
Private & Confidential
Mediation provides a confidential environment for discussing possible resolutions, subject to the limited exceptions provided by Florida law.
Flexible Solutions
Parents and spouses can explore solutions designed around their children's needs, finances, schedules, property, and individual circumstances.
Narrow the Dispute
Even when everything cannot be resolved, reaching agreement on some issues can reduce the number of matters that remain for litigation.
Available Before Filing
Families do not necessarily have to wait until a lawsuit is underway or a judge orders mediation before trying to resolve their issues.
STRAIGHTFORWARD FEES
How Much Does Florida Family Mediation Cost?
Mediation is billed at $225 per hour and is generally scheduled in two-hour blocks.
The parties may divide the mediation fee equally, or one party may choose to pay the full amount.
Additional sessions can be scheduled when more time is needed. There is no requirement that every issue be resolved in a single session.
TWO-HOUR MEDIATION SESSION
$225 per hour
If divided equally:
per party for the two-hour block
Schedule a Free ConsultationTHE MEDIATOR'S ROLE
Who Is Clayton Owens and What Is His Role?
Clayton Owens is the founder and mediator at Florida Family Mediation.
During mediation, I serve as a neutral mediator. I do not represent either party, decide who is right or wrong, or act as either person's attorney.
My role is to help both parties identify the issues that need to be addressed, communicate productively, evaluate possible options, and determine whether they can reach voluntary agreements.
Parties remain free to consult with independent attorneys or other professionals whenever they choose.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Florida Family Mediation FAQs
Common questions about virtual family mediation, divorce mediation, parenting disputes, confidentiality, and costs.
Can I schedule virtual family mediation in Florida?
Yes. Florida Family Mediation provides virtual family mediation throughout Florida. Parties can participate from different locations without traveling to a mediator's office.
How do I schedule mediation with Florida Family Mediation?
The first step is scheduling a free consultation. Each party may have an opportunity to speak with me about the mediation process before a mediation session is scheduled.
Is family mediation confidential?
Mediation communications are generally confidential under Florida law, subject to limited legal exceptions. This allows parties to discuss possible resolutions in a private mediation setting.
Do we need attorneys to participate in mediation?
Parties may participate in mediation with or without attorneys depending on their circumstances. As mediator, I remain neutral and do not represent either party or provide either person with individual legal representation. Either party may consult an independent attorney at any time.
Can we mediate before filing for divorce?
Yes. Couples may use mediation before filing a divorce case. Pre-filing mediation can allow the parties to work through parenting, financial, property, debt, and other issues before beginning contested litigation.
How much does family mediation cost?
Florida Family Mediation charges $225 per hour. Sessions are generally scheduled in two-hour blocks, for a total of $450. If the parties divide the fee equally, each party's share is $225 for the two-hour session.
What happens if we cannot agree on everything?
Mediation is not all-or-nothing. The parties may reach a partial agreement resolving some issues while leaving other matters unresolved. Narrowing the issues can make any remaining litigation more focused.
What issues can be discussed in family mediation?
Depending on the case, mediation may address parenting plans, timesharing, parental responsibility, holidays, travel, school decisions, property, debts, the marital home, retirement accounts, financial matters, and other family issues the parties need to resolve.
How do I choose a neutral family mediator in Florida?
Consider the mediator's training, certification where applicable, experience with family disputes, neutrality, fees, availability, and mediation process. A neutral mediator should make clear that the mediator does not represent either party or decide the outcome of the dispute.
What should I expect during a family mediation session?
The mediator helps identify the issues, organize the discussion, clarify each party's concerns, and explore possible resolutions. If agreements are reached, they may be documented in writing. Additional sessions may be scheduled when more time is necessary.
START WITH A CONVERSATION
Find Out Whether Mediation Is Right for Your Family.
You do not have to commit to mediation simply to learn how the process works. Start with a free consultation and ask your questions.
Schedule a Free ConsultationFlorida Family Mediation provides neutral mediation services. The mediator does not represent either party and does not provide either party with individual legal representation.