Florida Divorce Mediation

Florida Divorce Mediation offers couples a practical, confidential, and cost-effective alternative to traditional divorce litigation. Instead of allowing a judge to make life-changing decisions for your family, mediation empowers you and your spouse to work together with a neutral professional to reach fair, customized agreements.
At Florida Mediation and Parent Coaching, LLC, we help couples throughout Florida resolve divorce issues involving parenting plans, child support, timesharing, property division, retirement accounts, alimony, and other family matters. Whether your divorce is amicable or involves significant disagreements, our experienced mediators guide productive conversations that reduce conflict and create lasting solutions.
Led by Susan Buckingham, Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator, Parent Coordinator, Divorce Coach, and Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), along with Tammy Simpson, CIArb., PGDip., Mediator, Divorce Coach, and Business Manager, our team is committed to helping Florida families move forward with dignity and confidence.

Why Choose Divorce Mediation in Florida?

Divorce can be emotionally and financially overwhelming. Litigation often increases stress, legal expenses, and conflict while placing your family’s future in the hands of a judge. Mediation provides an opportunity to resolve disputes privately while preserving your ability to make decisions together.
Benefits of Florida Divorce Mediation

• Lower legal costs than traditional litigation
• Faster resolution than many court proceedings
• Confidential discussions that remain private
• Greater control over decisions affecting your family
• Customized agreements based on your unique circumstances
• Reduced stress for spouses and children
• Improved communication for future co-parenting
• Flexible scheduling, including secure online mediation
• Agreements that can often be incorporated into court orders
  Many Florida courts encourage or require mediation before contested divorce hearings because negotiated agreements frequently produce better long-term outcomes for families.

What Is Divorce Mediation?

Divorce mediation is a voluntary or court-ordered process in which a neutral mediator helps spouses discuss issues, explore options, and negotiate mutually acceptable agreements.
Unlike a judge, a mediator does not decide who is right or wrong. Instead, the mediator facilitates productive conversations, encourages respectful communication, and helps both parties evaluate solutions that meet their needs.
Our role is to create an environment where informed decisions can be made without unnecessary confrontation.

Issues We Help Resolve

Parenting Plans

If children are involved, developing a comprehensive parenting plan is one of the most important parts of mediation.
We help parents address:

• Weekly timesharing schedules
• Holiday and vacation schedules
• School decisions
• Medical and mental health decisions
• Religious upbringing
• Transportation arrangements
• Communication between parents
• Electronic communication with children
• Extracurricular activities
• Future dispute resolution procedures
  Related Service: Parenting Plans

Child Custody and Timesharing

Florida law focuses on the best interests of the child. Our mediation process helps parents develop parenting arrangements that prioritize children’s emotional, educational, and developmental needs while encouraging healthy relationships with both parents whenever appropriate.
Topics often include:

• Shared parental responsibility
• Decision-making authority
• School enrollment
• Medical care
• Summer schedules
• Holiday schedules
• Relocation concerns
• Parenting communication
  Related Service: Child Custody Mediation

Child Support Agreements

Parents can work together during mediation to discuss child support, healthcare expenses, childcare costs, extracurricular activities, and other financial responsibilities. While Florida child support guidelines apply, mediation provides an opportunity to address additional expenses in a practical manner.

Property Division

Florida follows the principle of equitable distribution, meaning marital assets and debts are divided fairly, though not always equally.
We assist couples in discussing:

• Marital homes
• Investment accounts
• Retirement plans
• 401(k)s
• Pensions
• Military retirement benefits
• Vehicles
• Businesses
• Personal property
• Credit card debt
• Loans
• Tax considerations

Our goal is to help couples understand their options and reach agreements that support long-term financial stability.
Related Service: Property Division Mediation

Alimony

Spousal support discussions can be one of the more sensitive aspects of divorce. Mediation provides a constructive environment for exploring financial needs, earning capacity, and future planning while working toward fair solutions.

Why Mediation Instead of Litigation?

Traditional litigation often creates winners and losers. Mediation seeks solutions that both parties can accept.
Divorce Litigation Divorce Mediation
Public court proceedings Private and confidential
Judge makes decisions You remain in control
Higher legal costs Often significantly lower costs
Lengthy court schedules Flexible scheduling
Adversarial process Collaborative process
Limited creative solutions Customized agreements
For many families, mediation preserves relationships, especially when parents will continue raising children together after divorce.

Our Mediation Process

Step 1 – Schedule Your Consultation:
We begin with an initial consultation to understand your goals, explain the mediation process, and answer your questions.

Step 2 – Information Gathering
Both parties identify the issues that need to be resolved and gather relevant financial and family information.

Step 3 – Mediation Sessions
During mediation sessions, we facilitate respectful discussions, identify areas of agreement, and help negotiate solutions for unresolved issues.

Step 4 – Drafting Agreements
When agreements are reached, we prepare a comprehensive written mediation agreement that may be reviewed by attorneys and submitted to the court when appropriate.

Step 5 – Moving Forward
Our objective is to help families leave mediation with clarity, confidence, and practical agreements that reduce future conflict.

Why Choose Florida Mediation and Parent Coaching, LLC?

Families throughout Florida choose our practice because of our experience, professionalism, and client-centered approach.
Susan Buckingham

• Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
• Parent Coordinator
• Divorce Coach
• More than two decades of experience helping families resolve conflict
  Tammy Simpson
• CIArb.
• PGDip.
• Mediator
• Divorce Coach
• Business Manager with extensive financial and organizational expertise
  Together, we provide balanced guidance addressing both the emotional and financial aspects of divorce.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is divorce mediation required in Florida?

In many contested family law cases, Florida courts require mediation before proceeding to trial. Even when not required, many couples choose mediation because it is often faster, less expensive, and less stressful than litigation.

Can we mediate if we disagree?

Yes. In fact, mediation is designed for people who disagree. The process helps identify common ground while respectfully addressing unresolved issues.

Do we need attorneys?

Many couples consult independent attorneys before or after mediation to review proposed agreements. Mediation does not replace legal advice, and each party may choose whether to retain counsel.

Is online mediation available?

Yes. We offer secure online mediation sessions for clients throughout Florida, making the process convenient regardless of location.

Is mediation confidential?

Generally, mediation communications are confidential under Florida law, subject to limited legal exceptions. Confidentiality encourages open and productive discussions.

Serving Families Throughout Florida

Florida Mediation and Parent Coaching, LLC proudly serves clients across the state, including:

• Miami
• Fort Lauderdale
• West Palm Beach
• Orlando
• Tampa
• St. Petersburg
• Jacksonville
• Gainesville
• Ocala
• The Villages
• Clermont
• Leesburg
• Sarasota
• Naples
• Fort Myers
• Daytona Beach
• Pensacola
• Tallahassee
• Melbourne
• Lakeland

Schedule Your Confidential Consultation

Every family deserves an opportunity to resolve conflict respectfully and efficiently.
Whether you are considering divorce, negotiating parenting issues, or preparing for court-ordered mediation, Florida Mediation and Parent Coaching, LLC is here to help.

Contact us today to schedule your confidential consultation and learn how professional mediation can help you move forward with confidence.