The Seventh Judicial Circuit’s Family/Dependency Mediation Program provides low-cost mediation services for parties to family law cases, whose combined income is less than $100,000 per year and free services to parties in dependency cases.
Mediation is an informal, confidential meeting between the parties and a neutral third party, a certified mediator. The parties may reach an agreement that resolves some or all of the issues in the case. If the parties do not agree, the Judge will decide the issues. The Mediator does not make any decisions in the case and does not report anything to the Judge other than the parties’ written agreement.
Mediations are conducted in court facilities in each of the counties in the Circuit. In cases where domestic violence has been a concern, special arrangements are made to assure safety and comfort. Any concerns should be brought to the attention of the Mediator prior to the date of the Mediation, if feasible, and any expression of concern will be treated as confidential.
Referrals to the Family/Dependency Program are made by Court Order. Parties who qualify and want to schedule a mediation may file a Motion for Order of Referral to the Family/Dependency Mediation Program, and the Judge assigned to the case may enter an Order of Referral (Volusia and Flagler/Putnam/St. Johns).
The fees for Mediation are as follows:
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Parties who have been determined indigent by the Clerk of Court pay nothing.
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Sixty dollars ($60) per person, per scheduled family mediation session, when the parties’ combined income is $50,000 or less per year.
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One hundred twenty dollars ($120) per person, per scheduled family mediation session, when the parties’ combined income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000 per year.
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Parties in Juvenile Dependency cases who are referred to the Court’s Family/Dependency Mediation Program are not charged any fees.
Parties who are ordered to the Seventh Judicial Circuit’s Family/Dependency Mediation Program can schedule mediation by contacting the Mediator’s Office at (386) 248-8117 (Volusia) or (904) 827-5638 (Flagler, Putnam or St. Johns).
Our mediation brochure provides additional information about mediation in the Seventh Judicial Circuit.
Volusia County Courthouse Annex
125 E. Orange Ave., Rm. 205
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(386) 248-8117
Richard O. Watson Judicial Center
4010 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 827-5638