Martin County Divorce Mediator | Ann M. Goade, Esq.

Ann M. Goade, Esq., provides certified divorce mediation for Martin County families in Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, and Jensen Beach. Florida Supreme Court certified since 1993. ACR Advanced Practitioner (2006). 

Ann M. Goade, Esq. has served Martin County families through divorce mediation for over 30 years — so Treasure Coast residents resolve contested family law matters within Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit without surrendering the outcome to a judge. 

Her Palm City office sits at the center of the Martin County service area, and virtual mediation is available for parties who cannot attend in person.

Schedule a Martin County mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq.

What Does a Martin County Divorce Mediator Do?

A Martin County divorce mediator is a Florida Supreme Court-certified neutral who facilitates structured negotiation between divorcing or separating parties — so both sides reach a written agreement on contested issues, including property division, alimony, child support, timesharing, and paternity, without requiring a Martin County circuit court judge to decide the outcome. 

Under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740, Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit requires mediation before most contested family law hearings — so mediation is a procedural requirement in most Martin County divorce and custody cases, not an optional step.

Ann M. Goade, Esq., conducts both private mediation for attorney-represented Martin County parties and Pro Se mediation for self-represented parties navigating the Martin County family court without an attorney.

How Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit Handles Divorce Mediation

Martin County family law cases proceed through the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves Martin and Okeechobee counties. The Martin County Courthouse sits at 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994 — the primary venue for contested family law hearings in the circuit. 

Under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.720 and Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740, parties in contested Martin County divorce, timesharing, and support cases must attempt mediation with a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator before a circuit court judge will hear the disputed issues.

The 19th Judicial Circuit’s case management process assigns contested family law matters to a case management conference within 90 days of filing. 

Mediation typically occurs between the case management conference and the final hearing, so the timing of family law mediation directly affects how quickly a Martin County family law case moves toward resolution. 

Parties who successfully complete mediation remove their contested issues from the court docket entirely, reducing their case timeline from the 12 to 24 months that contested 19th Judicial Circuit litigation routinely requires to a single mediation session.

Ann M. Goade, Esq. understands the procedural calendar of Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit — so she schedules and conducts mediation sessions that align with the circuit’s case management timeline and produce court-ready agreements that the Martin County Courthouse accepts without additional judicial review.

Why Martin County Family Law Attorneys Refer Clients to Ann M. Goade, Esq.

Family law attorneys practicing in Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit refer divorce and custody clients to Ann M. Goade, Esq. for three specific professional reasons.

First, Ann M. Goade, Esq. has practiced exclusively in family law mediation since 1993, so referring attorneys know their clients receive neutral facilitation from a mediator with no active litigation caseload competing for her professional attention. A mediator who also litigates creates a structural conflict risk for referring attorneys. Ann M. Goade, Esq. eliminates that risk entirely.

Second, Ann M. Goade, Esq. holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status in Family Law from the Association for Conflict Resolution (2006) and an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell — so the mediator’s credentials withstand scrutiny if either party or their attorney challenges the neutrality or competence of the mediation process in Martin County circuit court.

Third, mediated agreements produced by Ann M. Goade, Esq., are drafted in legally precise language that Martin County circuit court judges incorporate into final judgments without requiring additional revision, so referring attorneys avoid the delay and cost of returning to court to correct agreement language after mediation concludes.

Learn more about Ann M. Goade, Esq. or view all practice areas.

How the Mediation Process Works in Martin County

Martin County divorce mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. follows a structured four-stage process under Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator guidelines — so both parties know what to expect before the session begins and arrive prepared to negotiate.

Stage 1 — Intake and Issue Identification. 

Ann M. Goade, Esq. contacts both parties or their attorneys before the session to confirm the contested issues, identify required financial disclosure documents, and establish the session agenda. 

Martin County family court cases subject to mandatory disclosure under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 require both parties to exchange financial affidavits before mediation begins — so the intake stage confirms document readiness and prevents session delays.

Stage 2 — Joint Opening. 

Ann M. Goade, Esq., opens the session with both parties present to explain the mediation process, establish ground rules for communication, and confirm that all parties understand the confidentiality protections that apply under Florida Statute §44.405. Mediation communications made during a Martin County mediation session are confidential and cannot be used as evidence in subsequent 19th Judicial Circuit proceedings.

Stage 3 — Caucus and Negotiation. 

Ann M. Goade, Esq., conducts separate private sessions — called caucuses — with each party and their attorney to identify priorities, explore settlement positions, and narrow contested issues. 

Her legal training as a licensed attorney in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee gives Ann M. Goade, Esq. a precise understanding of how Martin County circuit court judges evaluate each contested issue — so both parties receive realistic guidance on likely judicial outcomes without requiring a judge to impose them.

Stage 4 — Written Agreement. 

When both parties reach an agreement on all contested issues, Ann M. Goade, Esq. drafts the mediated settlement agreement in legally precise language that Martin County circuit court judges incorporate directly into the final judgment of dissolution. 

Both parties sign the agreement before leaving the session — so Martin County families leave mediation with a binding, court-ready resolution, not a list of next steps.

Most Martin County mediation sessions with Ann M. Goade, Esq., complete all four stages in a single day. 

Complex cases involving multiple disputed financial issues or contested parenting plans may require a follow-up session. Learn more about the mediation process Ann M. Goade, Esq. uses with Treasure Coast families.

What Does Divorce Mediation Cost in Martin County?

Martin County divorce mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. costs significantly less than contested divorce litigation in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida — so families who choose mediation over litigation retain more of the marital estate and resolve their disputes faster.

Contested divorce litigation in Florida circuit court typically generates attorney fees between $10,000 and $30,000 per party for cases that proceed through a final hearing, according to the Florida Bar’s 2023 Economics and Law Office Management Survey. 

Cases involving contested timesharing, business valuation, or complex asset division routinely exceed those figures. 

Mediation eliminates most of those costs by resolving contested issues in a single, structured session rather than through sequential court filings, depositions, and hearing appearances.

Martin County circuit court may order mediation in contested family law cases at a rate set by the 19th Judicial Circuit’s court-ordered mediation fee schedule. 

Private mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. operates at a privately agreed rate — so parties who choose private mediation before court-ordered mediation are required to control their own timeline and avoid the additional court costs that accompany a judicial referral.

The three cost factors Martin County families should evaluate before choosing between mediation and litigation:

Attorney fees — Contested litigation in Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit requires both parties to retain separate litigation attorneys whose fees accumulate through every filing, hearing, and discovery event. Mediation requires only a single mediator fee, shared between the parties, so the total professional cost is a fraction of the contested litigation expense.

Timeline costs — Contested Martin County divorce cases that proceed to a final hearing generate 12 to 24 months of ongoing legal fees, lost productive time, and emotional cost. Mediation resolves the same contested issues in a single day, so the indirect costs of a prolonged dispute are eliminated.

Modification costs — Parties who negotiate their own mediated terms understand those terms and return to Martin County circuit court on modification actions at significantly lower rates than litigated cases, so a durable mediated agreement reduces future legal costs beyond the initial divorce proceeding.

Contact Ann M. Goade, Esq. to discuss Martin County mediation fees or schedule a mediation directly.

Divorce and Family Law Mediation Services in Martin County

Ann M. Goade, Esq. mediates the following family law matters for Martin County residents across Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, and Jensen Beach:

Service	What It Resolves in Martin County
Family Law Mediation	Contested divorce, legal separation, and post-judgment modifications in Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit
Pro Se Mediation	Structured sessions for self-represented Martin County parties navigating the family court without an attorney
Timesharing Disputes	Parenting plans, holiday schedules, and relocation disputes under Florida Statute §61.13
Child Support Mediation	Florida Child Support Guidelines calculations and modification requests under §61.30
Alimony Mediation	Bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent alimony disputes under §61.08
Equitable Distribution	Marital asset and debt division under Florida Statute §61.075
Paternity Mediation	Parental rights, timesharing, and support agreements for unmarried Martin County parents
LGBTQ Families and Domestic Partnership	Dissolution, parenting plans, and domestic partnership agreements in Martin County

Martin County Cities and Communities Served

Ann M. Goade, Esq. provides certified mediation across Martin County’s primary residential and family court communities — so Martin County families access Florida Supreme Court certified mediation without traveling outside the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Stuart — Stuart is the county seat of Martin County and the primary location for 19th Judicial Circuit family court proceedings at the Martin County Courthouse, 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994. Ann M. Goade, Esq., serves Stuart families through Stuart divorce mediation as a structured alternative to contested Stuart family court litigation.

Palm City — Ann M. Goade, Esq. operates her mediation practice from Palm City, Florida, so Palm City families have access to certified family law mediation at a location central to the Martin County service area.

Hobe Sound — Ann M. Goade, Esq. serves Hobe Sound families in Martin County’s southern corridor, resolving timesharing disputes and divorce matters through structured mediation within the 19th Judicial Circuit.

Jensen Beach — Jensen Beach families in Martin County access certified divorce and family law mediation through Ann M. Goade, Esq. as a faster, lower-cost alternative to contested 19th Judicial Circuit family court proceedings.

Indiantown — Ann M. Goade, Esq. provides family law mediation for Indiantown residents in western Martin County — so families in Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit resolve custody, support, and property disputes without extended circuit court timelines.

What Martin County Families and Attorneys Say

“Ann did a great job getting both parties to cooperate, and we came to an agreement in less than 2 hours. I appreciate her expertise in mediating and in law.” — Phyllis Bradley, 

“Ann is sensible and sticks to the facts. I appreciate her directness and ability to see the big picture. She’s goal-oriented. I highly recommend her.” — Anu Delcourt.

“Excellent mediator. Cleared up three years of issues in about three hours. Very professional.” — Allison Palmer

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Martin County require mediation before a divorce hearing? 

Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit requires mediation before most contested family law hearings under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740. Parties must attempt mediation before a judge hears contested divorce, timesharing, or support issues in Martin County family court.

Who is the certified divorce mediator serving Stuart and Palm City? 

Ann M. Goade, Esq. is a Florida Supreme Court-certified family mediator serving Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, and Jensen Beach. She has practiced exclusively in family law mediation since 1993 and holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status, which she was awarded in 2006.

What family law issues does mediation resolve in Martin County? 

Martin County divorce mediation resolves contested issues, including property division, alimony, child support, timesharing, paternity, and equitable distribution, heard in Martin County’s 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

How long does a Martin County divorce mediation session take? 

Most Martin County family law mediation sessions with Ann M. Goade, Esq. resolve in a single da,— so Martin County families avoid the 12 to 24 month timelines that contested 19th Judicial Circuit family court litigation routinely produces.

Does Ann Goade offer virtual mediation for Martin County families? 

Ann M. Goade, Esq., offers virtual mediation using enhanced video conferencing for Martin County families who cannot attend in person at her Palm City office, so geographic distance within the 19th Judicial Circuit does not prevent access to certified mediation.

How do Martin County families schedule a mediation with Ann Goade? 

Martin County families can schedule a mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. by calling (772) 288-7275 or emailing info@anngoade.com, so booking a certified mediation session requires no intermediary referral.