Mediation
Mediation is a way to settle disputes and law suits prior to or after the filing of a law suit which may avoid the need for a trial. It allows you to control decisions affecting your family, finances, business, divorce, custody problems and other aspects of life. A trained neutral professional helps you and the other party negotiate a compromise. That compromise will be written into a contract signed by both parties. The Goal of mediation is to assist people in conflict find a "win - win" solution to problems without a costly courtroom battle.
Mediation has many advantages:
- The people in a conflict control the outcome of their dispute, not a judge or jury.
- Any issue between people can be discussed and resolved, whether or not it is part of a lawsuit.
- Mediation promotes communication and cooperation.
- Mediation is less expensive than litigation.
- The people involved in mediation will save money on attorney's fees.
- Mediation teaches people how to negotiate, a skill that can be used in future problem resolution.
- Mediation is confidential, personal problems are not aired publicly.
- Mediation is usually quicker and more efficient than the trial process.
- Mediation allows individuals to tailor solutions to best meet their needs.
A mediator meets and talks with all parties together. They may then talk with each party privately. The mediator will separate the issues and facts in dispute from the issues and facts not in dispute. Settlement options designed to meet each party's goals and interests, are developed and discussed with the parties. Settlement discussions are confidential, legal proceedings. Mediation is concluded when the parties sign an agreement or when they cannot agree on any solution. An agreement is reached in the majority of cases and future litigation is not necessary.
Small Claims Mediation
Small Claims Mediation is offered at the time of the pretrial conference to give the parties involved an opportunity to reach an agreement outside of court and avoid the necessity of a trial. Certified volunteer County Court Mediators sit down in a conference room with both parties to assist them in resolving their dispute without a trial before a judge. The services of this program are also free of charge.
Links to Small Claims Instructions for Individual Counties:
Lee | Charlotte | Collier | HendryFamily Mediation
The Family Mediation Program offers couples with disputed issues the opportunity to determine and control the terms of their settlement. It reduces the emotional stress and trauma of the adversarial environment of the courtroom. Mediation provides a professional family mediator as a neutral third party to guide couples through the issues of conflict. The mediator is dedicated to reaching a mutual final agreement and does not favor one party over the other. The parties in a family mediation share the cost of the mediator on an equal basis.
Circuit and County Court Mediation
The difference between Circuit and County Court civil disputes is based on the dollar amount in dispute. Cases in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $30,000 are assigned to County Court. In those cases where the amount in dispute exceeds $30,000, the case will be assigned to Circuit Court. The judge in the case may order the parties in a dispute to submit to mediation with a professional mediator to resolve a case prior to bringing the matter before the court. The parties in these cases share the cost of mediation on an equal basis.
Lee County Court Mediation
The Court Mediation Department coordinates and schedules mediation between parties with Florida Supreme Court certified Family Law, Circuit Civil and County Court Civil Mediators for Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties. . Mediation is a process by which parties meet with a neutral third to try to resolve their cases without going to trial. If mediation is successful, the mediator prepares an agreement which is submitted the court for review and approval. All family law cases must attend mediation unless an exception is granted by the presiding judge.
Court mediators are paid at a contracted rate which is split between the parties.
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You must click "Enable Editing" in the yellow banner when opening a document. Not doing so will lock the document.LOCATION & CONTACT
Lee County Justice Center
1700 Monroe Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Phone Number: (239) 533-3353
Email: L2@ca.cjis20.org
Hours of Operation
Charlotte County Court Mediation
Located in the Administrative Office of the Courts, the Court Mediation Program coordinates the Citizens Dispute Settlement Program and Court Ordered Mediation services to associated litigants utilizing Certified Volunteer and Professional Mediators. Professional mediators have signed a Vendor Contract with the State of Florida and are paid at the State mandated determined rate. Although not all cases can be completely resolved through mediation, the benefit of mediation before a trial is that many of the issues HAVE BEEN resolved, cutting down on Court’s time needed to determine the outcome of the unresolved issues.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Charlotte County Justice Center
350 East Marion Avenue
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Tel: (941) 637-2317
Email: vgray@ca.cjis20.org
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Hours of Operation
Collier County Court Mediation
The Court mediation program in Collier County continues to provide effective alternative dispute resolution to Collier County residents with one full-time Mediation Coordinator. The program empowers parties to seek resolution of their disputes without judicial intervention. Cases are referred to the Court- program by the Judiciary or by agreement of the parties to participate in mediation.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Collier County Government Complex
3315 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 252-8704
Iler L. Rivera-Chicas
Mediation-collier@ca.cjis20.org
RELATED LINKS
Hendry County Court Mediation
In 2015, the Hendry County Court began offering a dispute resolution option for County Civil and Small Claims cases. The Mediation Program affords all parties the opportunity to reach an agreement without a trial. The Hendry Small Claims Mediation Program currently has two Florida Supreme Court Certified Volunteer County Court Mediators that assist in resolving disputes, free of charge.
Dispute resolution services are provided by the Lee County Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
LOCATION & CONTACT
Hendry County Court Administration
25 E. Hickpochee Ave.
LaBelle, Florida 33935
Tel: (863) 675-5374
Dawn Oliver- Admin Services Manager
Email: doliver@ca.cjis20.org
Lee County Justice Center
1700 Monroe Street
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Fax Number: (239) 533-3353
Email: MediationLee@ca.cjis20.org
