Florida Family Law Mediation Resources

Yes. Grant J. Gisondo is a Florida Supreme Court certified civil and family law mediator. He is also Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by The Florida Bar. When serving as mediator, he remains neutral; when representing a client, he serves as that client’s attorney and advocate.

It requires individualized screening and careful legal and safety analysis. Additional safeguards may be necessary, and mediation may be inappropriate in some circumstances. A person facing danger should seek immediate safety assistance and legal advice.

Sometimes. Structure, separate caucuses, experienced attorneys, careful preparation, and a skilled mediator may help. In other cases, coercion, safety risks, missing information, or inability to participate meaningfully may limit mediation’s suitability.

An attorney is not always required to attend, but the mediator cannot provide individualized legal advice. Representation can be especially valuable when rights, finances, children, property, or proposed settlement language are complex.

Bring the documents needed to understand the issues and evaluate proposals, including financial records, existing orders, calculations, property information, proposed parenting schedules, and a clear list of priorities and questions.

Yes, these issues are often discussed in mediation. Any agreement must comply with Florida law, and provisions involving children remain subject to court review and the applicable legal standards.

The unresolved issues continue through the legal process. The mediator does not decide them, and the parties may continue negotiating, conduct additional discovery, file appropriate motions, or prepare for trial.

A signed mediated agreement may be binding and difficult to undo. Limited legal grounds may exist to challenge or reform an agreement, but regret alone should not be assumed sufficient. Obtain legal advice before signing, and promptly if a dispute later arises.

The terms are reduced to writing and handled according to the applicable rules and court procedures. The agreement may be submitted for court review and incorporated into a final judgment or order when appropriate.

Protected mediation communications ordinarily may not be used that way. However, the exact communication, the governing statute, any waiver, and applicable exception matter. Independently admissible evidence does not become protected merely because it was discussed in mediation.

Generally, under Florida law, confidentiality is subject to statutory exceptions. Signed agreements, independently discoverable evidence, threats of violence, mandatory reports, and other circumstances identified in section 44.405 require careful treatment.

Fees depend on the mediator, the length and complexity of the session, preparation, and how costs are allocated by agreement or order. Parties should request the mediator’s fee terms and review any court order before the session.

There is no universal duration. The number and complexity of issues, quality of preparation, available information, and pace of negotiation affect whether a session lasts a few hours, a full day, or requires additional sessions.

Yes, many mediations are conducted remotely when permitted and appropriate. Participants should have reliable technology, privacy, access to documents, and a way to confer confidentially with counsel.

Not always. The mediator may use joint meetings, private caucuses, separate rooms, or virtual breakout rooms. Safety, effectiveness, party needs, and any governing order affect the format.

In voluntary mediation, the parties often agree on the mediator. In pending litigation, the applicable order, court procedures, and party agreement may govern selection or appointment.

Yes. A partial agreement can resolve selected issues and leave the remainder for further negotiation or court determination. The writing should clearly identify what is settled and what remains open.

No. A family law mediator facilitates negotiation but does not decide disputed facts, determine credibility, impose a settlement, or enter a judgment.

Yes. Parties may voluntarily mediate before filing. They should still obtain sufficient financial information and understand the legal effect of proposed terms before signing an agreement.

Not necessarily in every case. Florida courts may refer contested family-law matters to mediation, and local procedures or judicial orders may require mediation before trial. Exceptions and safety considerations may apply. Review the specific court order and local rules.