Florida divorce mediation with Charles Geller starts at $2,600. Mediation is billed by the hour, with a separate flat fee for document preparation. A typical 2-hour case runs about $2,600 all in. Cases that need more session time cost more, because Charles charges only for the time the session actually takes. Couples who finish faster pay less. The initial 30-minute consultation is free.
There is no retainer. There is no per-hour clock running between sessions for emails or check-ins. You pay for the session time you actually use, plus a flat fee for document drafting. The price you see here is the floor; the cases above it are the cases that take longer to settle.
What does Florida divorce mediation cost?
Here is how the bill works.
| 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 2-hour Florida divorce mediation case | About $2,600 all in |
A typical 2-hour case costs $2,600. A case that takes 3 hours costs more than a case that takes 2; a case that takes 4 hours costs more again. Charles tells you what to expect after the free consultation, once he understands what is actually in front of you.
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. The court charges around $400 to file the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. That fee is paid to the clerk of court, not to Charles. Some clients are eligible for a court 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. Typically a one-hour engagement at a few hundred dollars each.
- The court filing fee (currently around $400 in most Florida counties, paid to the clerk).
- 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?
For context, here is what the major alternatives cost.
Florida’s court-connected mediation program
Florida provides a sliding-scale court-connected mediation option under § 44.108. For couples with joint household income under $50,000, the fee is $60 per session. For joint income between $50,000 and $100,000, the fee is $120 per session. This is the most affordable option in Florida, by statute.
The trade-off: the court-connected program is generally available only after a divorce case is filed and a judge has referred it. The mediator is assigned. The scheduling moves at the court’s pace. MSA drafting is not included; you handle that separately. For couples with modest incomes who want to use this path, the Florida courts’ ADR page is the right starting point.
Private mediation (the service Charles offers) costs more per session but typically finishes faster, includes the MSA drafting, and lets you pick your mediator.
A single attorney retainer
A typical Florida family-law attorney charges a retainer of $3,000 to $5,000 to begin a divorce case. That retainer is a deposit against hourly work. Once it is drawn down, additional fees are billed. A typical mediated divorce with Charles costs less than most single attorney retainers, and the mediation fees cover both spouses, not just one.
Full litigated divorce in Florida
The national survey data on divorce costs comes from Martindale-Nolo, the largest U.S. legal consumer survey publisher. The Martindale-Nolo divorce cost research shows that an uncontested U.S. divorce averages roughly $4,100, while a contested divorce that goes to trial averages around $23,300. The overall mean is approximately $11,300; the median is $7,000.
These numbers are per case, not per spouse, and they vary substantially by state. Florida law firm marketing pages commonly advertise total ranges of $15,000 to $40,000 per spouse for fully litigated Florida divorce cases. These industry estimates are not from a published Florida Bar study; they are from practicing attorneys describing what they see.
The general pattern across the data is consistent. Florida divorce mediation through a private practitioner is significantly less expensive than fully litigated divorce, and it is competitive with or lower than the cost of one attorney retainer.
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.
Faster resolution. A landmark University of Virginia randomized study found that mediation “allowed settlements to be reached in half the time” of adversarial litigation (Emery & Wyer, 1991, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology). Less time means fewer billable hours, regardless of who is billing.
Why we publish our prices
Most Florida divorce mediators do not list prices on their websites. We do, for one reason: nobody calls a service that hides the cost.
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, 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.
Want to know what your specific case would cost?
Schedule a free 30-minute consultation. Charles will look at your situation, give you a realistic price, 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 $2,600 for a typical 2-hour case. Mediation is billed by the hour, 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 2 hours costs more, because Charles charges only for the time the session actually takes. The 30-minute initial consultation is free. The court filing fee (around $400) is paid separately to the clerk of court. Charles will give you a realistic estimate during the free consultation.
How much is the cheapest divorce in Florida?
The least expensive option for couples who qualify is Florida’s court-connected mediation program under § 44.108. The fee is $60 per session for joint household income under $50,000 and $120 per session for income between $50,000 and $100,000. The trade-off is that the court-connected program is typically only available after a case is filed and referred by a judge, with limited control over scheduling and mediator selection. MSA drafting is not included; you handle that separately.
How does mediation cost compare to hiring a divorce attorney in Florida?
A typical Florida family-law attorney charges a retainer of $3,000 to $5,000 just to start a case, with additional hourly fees billed beyond that. A typical Florida mediated divorce starting at $2,600 costs less than a single attorney retainer, and the mediation fees cover both spouses, not just one.
Are there hidden fees?
No. Mediation is billed hourly, and document preparation is a flat fee disclosed at the start. The total for a typical 2-hour case is about $2,600. Cases that take longer cost more, but the hourly rate doesn’t change once the engagement starts. The only separate cost is the court filing fee (about $400, paid to the clerk of court, not to Charles). If your case looks like it will take longer than a typical 2-hour session, Charles will tell you that during the free consultation, not after 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 of the consultation is to answer your questions, understand your situation, and decide together whether mediation is the right fit. About half the people who call decide it is. The other half get pointed toward the resource that actually fits their situation.
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.
Can the cost be deducted on my taxes?
In most cases, no. Legal and mediation fees for the personal aspects of divorce are generally not tax-deductible under current U.S. tax law. There are narrow exceptions related to tax advice or alimony structuring. Ask your tax professional about your specific situation.