Florida Mediation Services
In Florida, mediation is a confidential process where a neutral, trained mediator helps two parties reach their own voluntary agreement on divorce, parenting, finances, workplace, or business disputes without a judge deciding for them. Jessica Oliver, LCSW, is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator offering family, workplace, and business mediation virtually across Florida.
My Approach
Litigation puts your most personal decisions in the hands of a judge who meets you or your family for only a few minutes. It’s expensive, public, slow, and adversarial. More often than not, it deepens the conflict instead of ending it. Relationships can be damaged beyond repair, and the legal bills can rival the assets you were fighting over. Mediation offers the opposite. It’s private, faster, far less expensive, and it keeps the decisions with the people who actually have to live with them: you. With a skilled neutral guiding the conversation, even parties who can barely speak to each other can reach agreements that hold up.
Mediation Services Offered
Family Mediation - Guiding couples, co-parents, and families through separation, divorce, child custody or parenting plans, and communication challenges with structure, clarity, and compassion.
Divorce Mediation - A focused process to resolve the key issues of divorce, property, support, and parenting, so you can finalize your divorce without a courtroom battle. Online or virtual divorce mediation services are available.
Workplace & Business Dispute Resolution - Neutral facilitation for colleagues, teams, and business partners to resolve tension, rebuild trust, and restore productivity.
Mediation Coaching - One-on-one preparation to help you communicate effectively, manage emotions, and walk into any mediation or difficult conversation with confidence and composure.
In-person and remote options
Why Jessica Oliver?
Most mediators come from either a legal or a therapeutic background. I bring both. As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I understand the legal framework of your agreement and the emotional dynamics that can derail it. My clinical training in trauma-informed care built over nearly a decade in high-conflict settings means I can keep a charged conversation productive and respectful. The result is mediation that’s both legally sound and genuinely calm, keeping families focused on resolution rather than rivalry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is mediation?
Mediation is a confidential process in which a neutral mediator helps two parties reach a voluntary agreement, rather than a judge imposing a decision. The mediator guides the conversation but does not take sides or rule on the dispute.
How much does divorce mediation cost in Florida?
Mediation is typically a fraction of the cost of litigation because it’s faster and avoids prolonged court battles. My rate is $200/hr with a 2-hour minimum. Mediation costs are most often split evenly between the parties.
Is mediation legally binding?
The mediation conversation is confidential. Once you reach an agreement, put it in writing and sign it, once it's approved by the court, it becomes binding.
Do both people have to agree to mediate?
Mediation is voluntary and works best when both parties participate. In Florida, courts also commonly order mediation in family cases before trial.
Can mediation work if there’s a lot of conflict?
Yes. High-conflict situations are a core focus of my practice. A trauma-informed, structured approach is specifically designed to keep even tense negotiations on track.