Florida divorce mediation with Charles Geller starts at about $2,600 for a typical two-hour case. This is a starting estimate, not a fixed package price. Mediation time is billed hourly, and document preparation is charged as a separate flat fee. Cases that require more session time cost more. The initial 30-minute consultation is free.
There is no retainer and no hourly clock running between sessions for routine emails or check-ins. You pay for the session time you use, plus the disclosed flat fee for document preparation.
Is $2,600 a flat fee?
No. $2,600 is the starting estimate for a typical two-hour case, not a guaranteed total. Mediation time is billed hourly, and document preparation is a separate flat fee. Court filing charges and any third-party professional costs are also separate. Charles explains the expected cost after the free consultation, before you commit.
What does Florida divorce mediation cost?
The total depends mainly on how much mediation time the case requires. A typical two-hour case starts at about $2,600, including the mediation session and document preparation. Longer or more complex cases cost more.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Initial 30-minute Zoom consultation | Free |
| Mediation session | Billed hourly |
| Marital Settlement Agreement drafting | Flat document-prep fee |
| Parenting Plan drafting (if children) | Included in document-prep fee |
| Court filing package preparation | Included in document-prep fee |
| Typical two-hour Florida divorce mediation case | Starting estimate: about $2,600 |
A typical two-hour case starts at about $2,600. A three-hour case costs more than a two-hour case; a four-hour case costs more again. Charles tells you what to expect after the free consultation, once he understands the issues involved.
A small number of cases require additional work: a closely held business that needs valuation, multiple investment properties, significant retirement assets requiring detailed division language, or a second mediation session. When that is the situation, you will know it before you commit.
The Florida circuit court filing fee is separate from the mediation fees. Florida law authorizes circuit-court filing charges and additional dissolution-of-marriage charges. The total is commonly around $400, but the exact amount should be confirmed with the filing clerk. It is paid to the clerk, not to Charles. Some clients may qualify for a fee waiver based on income.
What’s included in the document-prep fee, what’s not
Included in the document-prep fee:
- All Marital Settlement Agreement drafting
- Parenting Plan drafting if children are involved
- Child support guidelines calculation under § 61.30
- A secure document portal for financial exchange
- Coordination on the court filing package
Also included with the engagement:
- Free 30-minute initial consultation by Zoom
- The mediation session itself (2-4 hours for most cases, billed hourly), by Zoom from anywhere in Florida or in person at the Orlando office
Not included (paid separately if you use them):
- Independent Florida family-law attorney review of the MSA. Strongly recommended. Fees are set by the reviewing attorney.
- The court filing fee (commonly around $400, paid to the clerk; confirm the current amount before filing).
- Forensic accountants, business valuators, or appraisers if the asset structure requires them. Most cases do not.
- Process server, if your situation requires formal service of the petition rather than a joint filing.
- A second mediation session, if the first does not resolve everything. Pricing for additional sessions is discussed before scheduling and follows the same hourly structure.
How does that compare to other Florida divorce options?
Private mediation gives couples control over mediator selection and scheduling and can include agreement drafting. Court-connected mediation may cost less for eligible parties, while attorney-led litigation uses separate legal representation and can add discovery, motions, hearings, and trial preparation. Exact costs depend on the path and the complexity of the case.
Florida’s court-connected mediation program
Florida provides income-based court-connected family mediation under Florida Statutes § 44.108. The statute provides a fee of $60 per person per scheduled session when combined income is under $50,000, and $120 per person per scheduled session when combined income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000. Indigent parties are not assessed a fee under this section.
Court-connected mediation is generally available after a case is filed and referred. The mediator is assigned, scheduling follows the court program, and private document-preparation services are not included. The Florida Courts mediation overview explains the process and mediator standards.
Working with separate attorneys
Private family-law attorneys may require an upfront retainer as a deposit against hourly work. The amount varies by lawyer and case, and additional fees may be billed as the matter continues. Each spouse needs independent legal advice; the mediator remains neutral and does not represent either person.
Full litigated divorce in Florida
Litigation can involve separate legal teams, formal discovery, contested motions, hearings, expert work, and trial preparation. Those steps can add time and billable work. Because case complexity and fee arrangements vary widely, this page does not present law-firm marketing estimates as a reliable statewide average.
Why does mediation cost less?
Three reasons.
One mediator, not two attorneys. In a traditional divorce, each spouse retains their own attorney. Both attorneys bill for every phone call, every email, every motion, every deposition, every court appearance. Mediation uses one neutral. The hours add up differently.
No motion practice, no discovery battles. Litigation costs scale with how many fights happen along the way. Discovery disputes, temporary relief motions, contested hearings on procedural questions: each one is a separate billable engagement. Mediation works through the same decisions in one structured conversation.
Fewer adversarial steps. Mediation addresses disputed terms in structured sessions rather than through a sequence of discovery disputes, contested motions, and hearings. Fewer procedural steps can mean fewer billable hours, although actual time and cost depend on the case.
Why we publish our prices
We publish a starting estimate because nobody should have to enter a sales process just to understand how the bill works.
If you are considering divorce, the last thing you need is a sales process. You need to know what mediation involves and what it costs, so you can decide whether it fits your situation. Pricing transparency is the simplest way to respect your time and your judgment.
The free 30-minute consultation is for the situations these numbers do not fit cleanly. If the price is a stretch, say so on the consult; there is no point in pretending otherwise. If your case has unusual complexity that would push the cost higher, Charles will tell you that upfront, not after a retainer is signed.
Payment
Charles accepts payment by credit card, bank transfer, cash, or cashier’s check. Payment is typically split into two parts: a deposit at the start of the engagement and the balance after the Marital Settlement Agreement is delivered. Many couples split the payment between themselves. Some have one spouse pay the full amount and account for it in the asset division. Both arrangements work.
Sources and limitations
Court-connected mediation fees are governed by Florida Statutes § 44.108. Filing charges are addressed in § 28.241 and § 28.101. Statutes and clerk charges can change. Confirm current filing costs with the relevant clerk before filing. Comparisons on this page are general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.
Get a case-specific estimate
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Charles will look at your situation, give you a realistic starting estimate, and answer the questions you have. No obligation.
Or call (407) 834-5800.
What is the total cost of a Florida divorce mediation?
Florida divorce mediation with Charles Geller starts at about $2,600 for a typical two-hour case. This is a starting estimate, not a flat package price. Mediation time is billed hourly, with a separate flat fee for document preparation (the Marital Settlement Agreement, the Parenting Plan if children are involved, and the court filing package). A case that takes longer than two hours costs more. The 30-minute initial consultation is free. Court filing charges are paid separately to the clerk. Charles will give you a realistic estimate during the free consultation.
How much is the cheapest divorce in Florida?
The least expensive mediation option for eligible couples is Florida’s court-connected program under § 44.108. The statute provides a $60 per-person fee when combined income is under $50,000 and a $120 per-person fee when combined income is greater than $50,000 but less than $100,000. The program is generally available after a case is filed and referred, and private document preparation is not included.
How does mediation cost compare to hiring a divorce attorney in Florida?
Private family-law attorneys may require retainers and bill additional time as a case continues. In mediation, one neutral mediator works with both spouses, while each spouse may separately hire an attorney for independent advice or agreement review. Total costs depend on the case, the professionals involved, and the amount of disputed work required.
Are there hidden fees?
No. Mediation is billed hourly, and document preparation is a flat fee disclosed at the start. A typical two-hour case starts at about $2,600. Cases that take longer cost more. Court filing charges and any third-party professional costs are separate. If your case looks likely to take longer than a typical two-hour session, Charles will explain that during the free consultation, before you commit.
Do you offer payment plans?
Payment is typically split into two parts: a deposit at the start of the engagement and the balance after the Marital Settlement Agreement is delivered. Other arrangements can be discussed during the consultation if the standard split does not fit your situation.
Who pays, me or my spouse?
That is up to the two of you. Many Florida couples split mediation costs evenly. Some have one spouse pay the full amount, with the cost reflected in the asset division. Both arrangements are common and Charles can work with either.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The 30-minute initial consultation is free, with no obligation. The point is to answer your questions, understand your situation, and decide whether mediation is the right fit. If it is not appropriate, Charles will say so directly and point you toward a more suitable resource when possible.
What happens to the cost if we need more than one mediation session?
Most Florida divorces finish in one session. A small number need a second. If a second session is needed, the same hourly rate applies and pricing is discussed before scheduling. The MSA drafting and document preparation remain covered under the original document-prep fee.