Serving South Florida’s Civil Mediation and Family Mediation cases with a firm but soft approach. Elizabeth is a tough negotiator with patience for listening to all concerns from the parties involved.

Elizabeth has mediated numerous high conflict civil and family cases while understanding the stress that all parties experience through litigation, she remains compassionate and skilled in helping all parties through the process.

Elizabeth mediates civil and family cases throughout the State of Florida utilizing video conferencing which allows mediation participants to mediate from virtually anywhere in the comfort of their own homes or offices. When in-person mediations are preferred we have an office conveniently located in Broward County, Florida, and Elizabeth also has the ability to travel.

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 Mediation FAQs:

 Mediation is a process that involves the assistance of a neutral third party called a mediator. The goal of the mediator is to help the parties reach a resolution to their case. During the mediation process, the settlement of the case remains in the hands of the parties. A mediator does not provide legal advice and is not allowed to make any of the decisions.

When the parties agree to settle their disputes through mediation, they are agreeing to take the decision-making process out of the hands of the court and back into their own hands.

Through mediation, a dispute can be settled once and for all. If the parties reach an agreement, the case is finalized and the parties are able to move on with their lives.

It is a mediator’s role to help the participants determine what is most important to them, and assist them in achieving a mutually satisfactory result. A mediator facilities communication and helps guide participants to an agreement.

Trials take a long time, are expensive, and stressful. When you go to trial, you leave the decision-making ability in the hands of a judge or jury. In contrast, mediations are much quicker (taking place in a matter of hours), inexpensive, confidential, and informal. In mediation, the decisions are made by the parties and not a third-party stranger. Mediation provides a better way for the parties to preserve ongoing relationships.

The mediator is usually selected by agreement of the parties. If they cannot agree, the judge may appoint a mediator.

At the mediation session(s), the parties present a summary of their points of view and discuss the issues. The mediator will either meet with the parties jointly or in separate sessions or both. When the mediator meets in a private session with the parties, it offers both parties the opportunity to vent, express their frustrations, and discuss settlement strategies. The mediator will often keep the parties in separate sessions while going back in forth between the rooms to discuss settlement proposals and to help facilitate settlement until the agreement is reached. The settlement agreement is then reduced to writing and signed by the parties.

The cost of mediation depends on the type of case. Parties usually divide the fees unless other arrangements have been made by agreement or by court order.

Parties should bring any documents that would be helpful in communicating issues and helping reach a settlement.

Yes. Mediation communications are confidential unless required or permitted to be disclosed under the law. Outside of those limited circumstances, all discussions in mediation and settlement proposals are confidential.

The length of mediation depends on the parties and the complexity of the issues. Mediations can range from 1 or 2 hours, to a full day. Some mediations take place over multiple sessions.