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Originally published: August 2021 | Updated: June 2026
Divorce mediation in Melbourne, FL is a structured process in which you and your spouse resolve divorce terms — property division, alimony, parenting plans, and child support — with a neutral mediator rather than a judge.
Sessions cost $350 per hour (2026 rate), and most uncontested cases resolve in a single two- to four-hour session for a total of $1,109–$1,859, including document preparation and court filing fee.
Kim W. Torres, Florida Bar member since 1985, has mediated 3,000+ disputes since 2000 across Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and Indian River Counties.
Spending months negotiating through attorneys when you and your spouse already agree on most terms? Kim Torres resolves uncontested divorces in as few as two hours — schedule a free telephone consultation.
Divorce mediation with Torres costs $350 per hour. Virtual sessions carry a two-hour minimum; in-person sessions carry a three-hour minimum. For pro se couples — spouses mediating without attorneys — she also prepares the enforceable settlement agreement and the court filing documents as separate flat-fee services.
| Service | Cost (2026) |
| Mediation session (virtual) | $350/hour, 2-hour minimum |
| Mediation session (in-person) | $350/hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Preparation of enforceable settlement agreement (MSA) | $700 flat |
| Preparation of documents for uncontested divorce or parenting plan filing | $750 flat |
| Court filing fee (paid directly to Brevard County Clerk) | $409 (2026) |
A straightforward, uncontested divorce handled entirely through mediation — including the session, MSA, document preparation, and filing fee — runs between $1,109 and $1,859 total, depending on session length.
Contested litigation in Florida routinely costs $15,000–$ 40,000 or more per person, according to the Florida Bar’s consumer resources.
Kim accepts cash, check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle. Each step is paid at the start of that step, not all at once.
Divorce mediation is a structured conversation between you and your spouse, facilitated by a neutral third party — the mediator — who does not represent either side and does not make decisions for you.
Torres holds Florida Supreme Court certification in Family mediation, meaning she meets the training, experience, and ethical standards required by the Florida Rules for Certified and Court-Appointed Mediators.
Most mediations begin with a joint session where both parties sit in the same room — or on the same Zoom call — to establish ground rules and outline the issues. When a topic becomes heated, or one party needs to explore options privately, the mediator moves to a caucus — a private session in which she meets with each party separately. She does not share caucus statements with the other side unless you give permission.
Kim facilitates the conversation, asks questions to identify each person’s priorities, and helps you both develop options for resolving each issue. She does not give legal advice, represent either party, or decide any outcome.
If you need legal guidance, you can bring an attorney to the session or have one review the agreement before you sign.
Under Florida Statute §44.405, everything said during mediation is confidential and cannot be used as evidence in court.
Pro se divorce mediation is for couples who choose to handle their divorce without hiring attorneys. “Pro se” is a legal term meaning self-representation — you and your spouse file the necessary court papers yourselves rather than through lawyers.
A significant portion of the practice’s 3,000+ mediations involves pro se parties. She guides unrepresented spouses through every topic the court requires — property division, debt allocation, alimony, and, if children are involved, a parenting plan that covers time-sharing, decision-making authority, and child support calculations.
After the session, Torres prepares the mediation settlement agreement (MSA) and the documents required to file for an uncontested divorce with the Brevard County Clerk of Court or the appropriate county clerk.
The agreement, once signed by both parties and approved by the court, becomes a legally enforceable court order.
Pro se divorce mediation works when both spouses are willing to sit down, discuss the issues, and make their own decisions.
Pro se mediation does not work when there is a history of domestic violence, when one party refuses to disclose financial information, or when the power imbalance between spouses makes voluntary negotiation unsafe.
Florida divorce mediation can address every issue that a court would decide at trial. Torres covers all of the following in a single process, whether you have attorneys or are mediating pro se:
Equitable distribution of marital assets and debts, division of real estate, including the sale of the marital home and distribution of equity, retirement account division, business valuation, marital and non-marital asset classification, alimony type and duration, tax credit allocation, and restoration of a former name.
Parenting plans that meet Florida’s statutory requirements for time-sharing, decision-making responsibility (education, healthcare, religious upbringing), holiday and vacation schedules, communication protocols between parents, child support calculations based on Florida’s income shares model, and retroactive child support when applicable.
Unsure whether your situation qualifies for mediation or whether you need attorneys involved? Kim Torres offers a free telephone consultation to walk through your options — call (321) 821-9995.
A straightforward uncontested divorce — where both spouses agree on most terms and need help formalizing the agreement — typically resolves in a single session of two to four hours. Contested divorces with disputes over custody, property division, or alimony may require four to eight hours across one or two sessions.
After the mediation session, she prepares the MSA and files documents within a standard turnaround. The court filing and finalization process in Brevard County varies, but uncontested divorces with a signed MSA move significantly faster than contested cases — often weeks rather than months.
Preparation directly affects how long your session takes and what it costs. The more organized your financial documents are, the faster the mediator can guide you through each issue.
Bring your most recent financial affidavit, which Florida courts require in all family cases. Include two years of federal and state tax returns, three months of pay stubs, and bank statements for all checking, savings, and investment accounts.
Retirement account statements (401(k), IRA, pension), mortgage statements, property tax records, credit card statements, loan balances, and any prenuptial agreement in effect should also be organized before the session.
If children are involved, bring current school and extracurricular schedules, health insurance information, a draft or proposed parenting plan outline (if you have one), and any existing court orders from prior custody or support proceedings.
You do not need an attorney present, though you may bring one or have one review the agreement afterward. You do not need to agree on everything before the session — that is what the mediation is for.
Mediation and litigation both end in a court order, but the processes, timelines, and costs differ substantially. Mediation clients retain control over the outcome; in litigation, a judge decides for you.
| Factor | Mediation with Kim Torres | Contested Litigation |
| Cost (typical) | $1,109–$1,859 total (pro se) | $15,000–$40,000+ per person |
| Timeline | 2–8 hours of sessions; weeks to finalize | 6–18 months average |
| Who decides | You and your spouse | A judge |
| Confidentiality | Yes — FL §44.405 protects all communications | No — court filings are public record |
| Attorney required | No | Strongly recommended |
| Scheduling | Within 1–3 days | Subject to the court calendar |
| Outcome | Written MSA signed by both parties | Judgment imposed by the court |
Even when mediation does not produce a full agreement, the process typically narrows the disputed issues — reducing the time and attorney fees required to litigate whatever remains.
Is divorce mediation required in Florida before going to trial?
Yes. Florida courts require mediation in most family law cases before a judge will schedule a trial, under Florida Statute §44.102. You can also mediate voluntarily before filing your petition, which often resolves the dispute faster and at lower total cost.
Can I get divorced through mediation without hiring a lawyer?
Yes. Pro se divorce mediation — where neither spouse has an attorney — is a significant part of the practice. She guides unrepresented spouses through property division, alimony, parenting plans, and child support, then prepares the MSA and filing documents.
How much does a complete pro se divorce cost through mediation?
A typical uncontested pro se divorce runs $1,109 to $1,859 total, covering the mediation session ($350/hour, two-hour minimum), MSA preparation ($700), document preparation ($750), and the $409 court filing fee paid directly to the clerk.
What happens if we cannot reach an agreement during mediation?
The mediator files an impasse report with the court, and you proceed to litigation on unresolved issues. Most mediations narrow the disputes significantly, even when full agreement is not reached, which reduces trial time and attorney fees on the remaining contested points.
Is what I say during mediation confidential?
Yes. Florida Statute §44.405 protects all mediation communications. Nothing said during the session can be used as evidence in court, and the mediator cannot be called as a witness. The only exceptions are mandatory reporting obligations required by law.
How long does a typical divorce mediation session last?
Straightforward, uncontested divorces typically resolve in two to four hours. Contested cases with custody or complex property disputes may require four to eight hours across one or two sessions. Virtual sessions carry a two-hour minimum; in-person sessions require three hours.
Can my attorney attend the mediation session with me?
Yes. You may bring an attorney to any mediation session, or you may choose to have an attorney review the agreement after the session before you sign. Other professionals — a financial planner, CPA, or Realtor — can also participate at your request.
Does Kim Torres mediate divorces outside Brevard County?
Yes. She regularly mediates in Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and Indian River Counties and travels statewide, with conference rooms available in any Florida county. Zoom video conferencing covers every session type, and scheduling is often possible within one to three days.
What is a mediation settlement agreement, and is it legally binding?
A mediation settlement agreement — the MSA — is the written document memorializing every term you and your spouse agreed to during mediation. Once both parties sign the MSA, the document becomes a binding contract. The court incorporates the terms into the final divorce judgment.
What if my spouse and I agree on everything — do we still need mediation?
Mediation is not required when both spouses agree on every term, but pro se clients frequently use mediation to ensure the agreement covers all court-required issues, follows proper formatting, and avoids rejection or enforcement problems later.
Still negotiating the same custody schedule or property split you discussed three months ago? Kim Torres has finalized 3,000+ mediation agreements since 2000 — most in a single session. Schedule your free telephone consultation.
Kim W. Torres, Esq. is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator in Circuit Civil, Family, County Court, and Appellate matters and a member of The Florida Bar since 1985. Practicing exclusively as a mediator since 2000, she has resolved more than 2,000 cases — from complex multi-party disputes to high-emotion matters with self-represented parties. A past Chair of the Florida Bar’s ADR Section and Brevard County’s Circuit Civil Mediator of the Year, Kim mediates throughout Florida, in person and virtually.