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Originally published: April 2026 | Updated: June 2026
County court mediation in Florida covers civil disputes valued between $8,001 and $50,000 under Florida Statute §34.01(1)(c), a threshold in effect since January 1, 2023.
Cases above $15,000 require a private Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator. Sessions cost $350 per hour (2026 rate) with a two-hour virtual minimum and a three-hour in-person minimum.
Kim W. Torres, Florida Bar member since 1985 and Chair of the Florida Bar’s ADR Section in 2019–20, has mediated 3,000+ disputes since 2000 across Brevard, Orange, Seminole, and Indian River Counties.
Got a court order to mediate a $20,000 contractor dispute, and the court’s program told you they cannot take your case? Kim Torres handles private county court mediations across all 67 Florida counties — schedule a free telephone consultation.
County court mediation starts when a judge issues an Order of Referral, a landlord files over unpaid rent, a contractor sues for the final draw, or a creditor files a collection action. Most people do not seek mediation voluntarily — the dispute forces the question.
The disputes share a pattern: the dollar amount matters enough to fight over, but sits low enough that attorney fees can exceed the claim itself. A $15,000 landlord-tenant dispute litigated through discovery and trial can cost $8,000–$12,000 per side in legal fees. Mediation collapses that timeline and cost into a single session.
Kim mediates county court disputes across every category that comes before Brevard County’s courts — security deposit claims, contractor payment disputes, vendor invoices, insurance subrogation, consumer debt collections, HOA fine disputes, warranty claims, and breach-of-service-agreement actions.
County court mediation with Kim costs $350 per hour. Virtual sessions carry a two-hour minimum; in-person sessions carry a three-hour minimum. Most county court disputes — a security deposit claim, a contractor payment disagreement, a single-issue contract breach — resolve in two to three hours.
| Service | Cost (2026) |
| County court mediation (virtual) | $350/hour, 2-hour minimum |
| County court mediation (in-person) | $350/hour, 3-hour minimum |
| Unrepresented party rate | $300/hour, 2-hour minimum |
Both parties typically split the fee. Kim accepts cash, check, credit card, Venmo, PayPal, and Zelle.
The court’s subsidized mediation program covers cases up to $15,000 at low or no cost. Any case above $15,000 falls outside that program by statute — you must retain a private certified mediator.
Many parties below $15,000 also choose private mediation for faster scheduling, mediator selection, and Zoom availability.
You can arrive at county court mediation in two ways, and the process works the same in both.
Court-ordered mediation happens when a county civil judge issues a referral, typically at or after a pretrial conference. Florida Statute §44.102 authorizes Florida courts to order mediation in any civil case.
For cases exceeding $15,000, the order requires the parties to retain a private Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator. Florida Rule 1.720 requires the first session within 60 days of the referral order unless both parties agree otherwise.
Voluntary mediation means you and the other party agree to mediate before or after filing — no court order needed. You pick the mediator, set the schedule, and keep the dispute out of the courtroom entirely. If you reach an agreement, she prepares a written settlement that becomes an enforceable court order once filed.
Either way, the mediator does not decide the outcome. You and the other party make every decision. If you agree, Kim puts it in writing.
If you cannot agree, she files an impasse report, and the case returns to the judge for trial, with no penalty and no disclosure of what was said in the room.
Kim opens by explaining the rules: everything said in this room stays in this room under Florida Statute §44.405. She does not represent either side. She does not decide who is right. Her job is to help you both find terms you can sign.
Each party describes the dispute from their side — what happened, what they want, and what they would accept to resolve the matter. Kim identifies the specific points of disagreement and the areas where both parties actually align (there are almost always more of these than either side expects walking in).
When the conversation stalls, she moves to caucus — a private conversation with each party separately. What you tell Kim in caucus stays with her unless you authorize her to share it. Caucus is where the real movement happens: the number someone would actually accept versus the number they opened with.
When both parties reach an agreement, Kim writes it up on the spot. Both parties sign. Once filed with the court, the signed mediation settlement agreement becomes an enforceable court order — carrying the same weight as a judgment after trial.
| Outcome | What It Means for You |
| Full agreement | Written, signed, filed — enforceable as a court order |
| Partial agreement | Resolved issues are binding; remaining disputes go to trial |
| Impasse | No agreement — case returns to the judge with no penalty and no disclosure |
Florida’s court-administered mediation program has a hard eligibility cap of $15,000. Any county civil case above that threshold must use a private Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator — Florida law requires it.
The difference matters beyond eligibility. Court-program mediators work rotating assignments on the court calendar, typically scheduling sessions three to six weeks out.
Kim schedules within 48 hours, conducts sessions by Zoom across all 67 Florida counties, and reviews case materials before the session rather than reading the file for the first time when you walk in.
| Factor | Court Program | Private Mediator (Kim Torres) |
| Eligible case values | Up to $15,000 only | $8,001–$50,000 (full county court range) |
| Scheduling | Court calendar, 3–6 weeks | 48 hours |
| Format | In-person only (most circuits) | Zoom or in-person, all 67 FL counties |
| Mediator selection | Court-assigned rotation | You choose |
| Pre-session review | Standardized intake | Kim reviews case materials in advance |
For cases below $15,000 where you want faster scheduling, mediator selection, and virtual access, you can voluntarily retain a private mediator even though the court program is available.
You do not need a lawyer to attend a county court mediation. Florida Statute §44.1011(2) allows either party to participate without counsel. You may bring an attorney, but many county court disputes — particularly debt collection defense and landlord-tenant claims — involve self-represented parties on both sides.
Bring every document related to the dispute: the contract, lease, or credit agreement; invoices, receipts, and payment records; correspondence between the parties (emails, texts, letters); photos of damaged property or incomplete work; and a written summary of what you want as a resolution.
Do I need a lawyer for county court mediation in Florida?
No. Florida Statute §44.1011(2) allows parties to attend without counsel. You may bring an attorney, but self-representation is common in county court disputes, especially landlord-tenant claims, debt collection defense, and contractor payment disputes under $50,000.
What is the dollar range for county court jurisdiction in Florida?
Florida county civil court covers disputes from $8,001 to $50,000, excluding costs, interest, and attorney fees, under Florida Statute §34.01(1)(c) in effect since January 2023. Small claims court handles disputes up to $8,000. Cases above $50,000 go to circuit court.
How much does private county court mediation cost?
Kim charges $350 per hour (2026 rate), with a two-hour minimum for virtual sessions and a three-hour minimum for in-person sessions. Unrepresented parties pay $300 per hour. Most county court disputes are resolved in two to three hours for $700–$1,050 total.
Why can’t the court program handle my case above $15,000?
Florida’s court-administered mediation program has a statutory eligibility cap at $15,000. Cases above that amount require a private Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator by statute. Kim handles disputes from $8,001 to $50,000 across all 67 Florida counties.
Is everything I say in county court mediation confidential?
Yes. Florida Statute §44.405 protects all mediation communications. Nothing said during the session can be introduced as evidence at trial. A signed settlement agreement becomes a public, enforceable court document, but the negotiation itself remains confidential.
How fast can I schedule a county court mediation session?
Kim confirms sessions within 48 hours of initial contact and is available virtually across all 67 Florida counties. Court-program mediators typically schedule three to six weeks from the date of referral. Morgan coordinates scheduling by phone at (321) 821-9995.
What happens if we reach an agreement at mediation?
Kim writes the agreement during the session, and both parties sign. Once filed with the court, the agreement becomes an enforceable court order carrying the same weight as a judgment after trial. Either party can seek judicial enforcement if the other fails to perform.
What happens if we do not reach an agreement?
Kim files an impasse report. The case returns to the assigned judge for trial with no penalty. All session communications remain confidential under Florida Statute §44.405 — attending mediation without settling cannot be held against you at trial.
Staring at a court order to mediate a $25,000 dispute and not sure where to start? Kim Torres has mediated 3,000+ county court, family, and commercial cases since 2000 — because you own the resolution, not a judge. 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.