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Florida · Lake County · 5th Judicial Circuit

Divorce & Family Mediation in Clermont, FL

Divorce, family and co-parenting mediation for Clermont families, with a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. Lake County's family judges sit at the Judicial Center in Tavares, the county seat, and private sessions by Zoom or Google Meet let you mediate from home instead of making that drive.

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Lake County

Family court and mediation for Clermont residents

Family cases filed in Lake County are heard at the Lake County Judicial Center, 550 W. Main St., Tavares, where the circuit judges assigned to family cases have their offices. The court's Family Court Case Management Self-Help Office is on the fifth floor of the East Wing. Lake County is part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

The same court and the same online sessions apply to families in Leesburg, Eustis, Groveland, Minneola, Mount Dora and Lady Lake, elsewhere in Lake County.

The Fifth Circuit's court mediation program takes divorce and paternity cases once the judge has entered an order for mediation and all parties have filed financial affidavits within the past year. Couples whose combined annual income is over $100,000 are ineligible and must use a private mediator. The circuit's referral order says court-program family mediations are held remotely by audio or video unless a party asks to meet in person, at $60 or $120 per party per three-hour session depending on income. The circuit's mediation program page has the current details.

Private mediation is a separate path: you choose the mediator and the timing, and you can meet from home by video. Dr. Conflicts is a Florida Supreme Court Certified County & Family Mediator and works with Clermont families online, so there is no courthouse trip for the mediation itself.

Florida rules worth knowing
  • Mediation can be held onlineFlorida's family rules let the referral order or a written stipulation provide for mediation in person, remotely by audio or audio-video technology, or a combination. If a court order is silent, court-ordered mediation is in person. Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.740
  • What is said in mediation stays confidentialUnder Florida's Mediation Confidentiality and Privilege Act, mediation communications are confidential. That covers court-ordered mediations and mediations conducted by a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator, unless the parties agree otherwise. Fla. Stat. 44.405
  • Court-program fees are set by statuteIn court-connected family mediation, the fee is $60 per person per scheduled session when the parties' combined income is under $50,000, and $120 when it is between $50,000 and $100,000. A party found indigent pays no fee. Fla. Stat. 44.108
  • Parents take a four-hour courseIn a divorce with minor children, or a paternity case, every party must complete a parent education and family stabilization course of at least four hours before final judgment, generally within 45 days of filing or service. Fla. Stat. 61.21
What we can work on

Mediation services for Clermont families

How it works

The mediation process

  1. 01Initial consultationA confidential conversation to understand the situation and determine whether mediation is appropriate.
  2. 02Intake and preparationClarify the issues, goals, participants, and any documents or background information needed before the session.
  3. 03The mediation sessionEach person has an opportunity to be heard and the issues are organized clearly - with structure, not escalation.
  4. 04Exploring optionsDiscuss possibilities together and work toward practical, realistic solutions that fit the specific situation.
  5. 05Agreement and next stepsA written summary of agreements or clear next steps, depending on the type of matter and the participants' needs.
Questions

Mediation in Clermont: common questions

Family cases filed in Lake County are heard at the Lake County Judicial Center, 550 W. Main St., Tavares, where the circuit judges assigned to family cases have their offices. The court's Family Court Case Management Self-Help Office is on the fifth floor of the East Wing. Lake County is part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties.

The Fifth Circuit's court mediation program takes divorce and paternity cases once the judge has entered an order for mediation and all parties have filed financial affidavits within the past year. Couples whose combined annual income is over $100,000 are ineligible and must use a private mediator. The circuit's referral order says court-program family mediations are held remotely by audio or video unless a party asks to meet in person, at $60 or $120 per party per three-hour session depending on income. Private mediation is the alternative when you want to choose your mediator and meet online.

Yes. Sessions are online, so families anywhere in Lake County can mediate from home. Family cases from Leesburg, Eustis, Groveland, Minneola, Mount Dora and Lady Lake are filed in the same Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida as Clermont's.

Florida's family rules allow mediation by audio or audio-video technology when the court's referral order or a written stipulation provides for it. Otherwise, court-ordered mediation is in person. In private mediation you agree the format with your mediator, and Dr. Conflicts works online by Zoom or Google Meet.

In the court's program, Florida Statute 44.108 sets $60 per person per session when combined income is under $50,000 and $120 between $50,000 and $100,000, with no fee for a party found indigent. Private mediation is priced separately, and fees are discussed and agreed before any work begins.

Yes. Under Florida Statute 44.405, mediation communications are confidential in court-ordered mediations and in mediations conducted by a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator, unless the parties agree otherwise. There are limited legal exceptions.

Mediation is not legal representation, and Dr. Conflicts does not give legal advice. Many people have their own attorney review a proposed agreement before signing, especially when property, support or a parenting plan is involved.

Clermont, Florida

Talk it through before you decide

A short consultation helps you see whether mediation fits your situation. Sessions are online, in English or Hebrew.

Important to know

Mediation is not legal representation. Dr. Conflicts does not provide legal advice, does not represent either participant, and does not replace consultation with an attorney. Participants are encouraged to seek independent legal advice when legal rights, obligations, court filings, or formal agreements are involved.

Court details on this page come from official Florida court and statute sources, linked above. Procedures change; always confirm with the court or your attorney.