Divorce & Family Mediation in Panama City, FL
Divorce, family and co-parenting mediation for Panama City families, with a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. Bay County's Fourteenth Judicial Circuit refers all parties in a contested family law matter to mediation, and online sessions by Zoom or Google Meet let you work through the issues from home.
Family court and mediation for Panama City residents
Family cases filed in Bay County are heard at the Bay County Courthouse, 300 E. 4th St., Panama City, the county's main courthouse, which also houses the Clerk of Court. The Fourteenth Circuit has two family law case managers for Bay County, and its family mediation program, with staff and contract mediators, is available in every county of the circuit. Bay County is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties.
The same court and the same online sessions apply to families in Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven and Callaway, elsewhere in Bay County.
In the Fourteenth Circuit, all parties in a contested family law matter are referred to mediation, and under Administrative Order 2007-00-03 they must attend unless an exception applies. The court program is for couples with combined gross income up to $100,000, at $60 or $120 per person for a three-hour session paid to the clerk beforehand. Couples above that limit must use a private mediator. 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 Panama City families online, so there is no courthouse trip for the mediation itself.
- 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
Mediation services for Panama City families
Family and Divorce Mediation
Work through separation without handing the outcome to a court.
Learn moreCo-Parenting Mediation
Build a parenting partnership that works after the relationship ends.
Learn moreVirtual Mediation
The same structured process, from wherever each person is.
Learn moreDivorce and Co-Parenting Coaching
Steady support through the hardest conversations.
Learn moreThe mediation process
- 01Initial consultationA confidential conversation to understand the situation and determine whether mediation is appropriate.
- 02Intake and preparationClarify the issues, goals, participants, and any documents or background information needed before the session.
- 03The mediation sessionEach person has an opportunity to be heard and the issues are organized clearly - with structure, not escalation.
- 04Exploring optionsDiscuss possibilities together and work toward practical, realistic solutions that fit the specific situation.
- 05Agreement and next stepsA written summary of agreements or clear next steps, depending on the type of matter and the participants' needs.
Mediation in Panama City: common questions
Family cases filed in Bay County are heard at the Bay County Courthouse, 300 E. 4th St., Panama City, the county's main courthouse, which also houses the Clerk of Court. The Fourteenth Circuit has two family law case managers for Bay County, and its family mediation program, with staff and contract mediators, is available in every county of the circuit. Bay County is part of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties.
In the Fourteenth Circuit, all parties in a contested family law matter are referred to mediation, and under Administrative Order 2007-00-03 they must attend unless an exception applies. The court program is for couples with combined gross income up to $100,000, at $60 or $120 per person for a three-hour session paid to the clerk beforehand. Couples above that limit must use a private mediator. Private mediation is the alternative when you want to choose your mediator and meet online.
Yes. Sessions are online, so families anywhere in Bay County can mediate from home. Family cases from Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven and Callaway are filed in the same Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida as Panama City'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.
Florida mediation guides
Nearby Florida cities
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.