A Stuart FL divorce mediator is a neutral, Florida Supreme Court–certified professional who helps couples resolve divorce, alimony, and property disputes without a contested trial, so families control the outcome.

 Goade has mediated Stuart cases since 1993 from her nearby Palm City office, with most sessions resolving in a single day. Schedule a mediation to get started.

Key Takeaways

• Stuart is the county seat of Martin County; contested family law cases are heard at the Martin County Courthouse within Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit, where mediation is generally required before a judge hears the case.
• Goade has been certified since 1993 and holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status (2006).
• Most Stuart mediation sessions resolve in a single day, compared with the extended timelines that contested 19th Judicial Circuit litigation routinely takes.
• Virtual mediation is available for Stuart parties who cannot attend in person at the Palm City office.

What Does a Stuart FL Divorce Mediator Do?

A Stuart, FL, divorce mediator, acting as a neutral facilitator, helps both spouses negotiate a written settlement of contested matters — property division, alimony, child support, time-sharing, and paternity — so that a Martin County Courthouse judge does not have to decide the outcome for them.

Goade has practiced exclusively in family law mediation since 1993, working with both attorney-represented parties and self-represented parties in Pro Se mediation. She does not advocate for either spouse; her role is to facilitate a fair, informed agreement that both sides sign voluntarily.

Because mediation is a facilitated negotiation rather than a hearing, sessions can be scheduled around a Stuart family’s work and childcare needs rather than the Martin County Courthouse’s docket.

Why Stuart Families Choose Mediation Over Martin County Courthouse Litigation

Under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740, parties in most contested Martin County family law cases must attempt mediation with a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator before a judge will hear the disputed matters — mediation is a procedural step, not an optional extra.

Stuart is the county seat of Martin County, and contested divorce, timesharing, and support cases are heard at the Martin County Courthouse, 100 SE Ocean Blvd, Stuart, FL 34994, within Florida’s 19th Judicial Circuit.

Stuart couples who reach a mediated agreement remove their contested matters from the Martin County Courthouse docket entirely. 

Reaching a mediated agreement typically shortens a case from the extended timeline contested 19th Judicial Circuit litigation can require down to a single mediation session, while also keeping the details of the dispute out of the courtroom.

How Divorce Mediation Works With Goade

Stuart mediation sessions with Goade follow the same structured process used across her Martin County practice — full detail is available on the mediation process page — condensed here for Stuart parties:

1. Intake — She begins with an intake conversation to confirm the contested matters and required financial disclosure before the session, so both sides arrive prepared.
2. Joint Opening — The session then opens jointly with both parties to review ground rules and confidentiality protections under Florida Statute §44.405.
3. Private Caucus — Private caucus conversations follow, during which she meets separately with each party to narrow the contested matters and test settlement positions.
4. Written Agreement — Once both sides agree, she drafts the settlement in language the Martin County Courthouse can incorporate directly into a final judgment.

Most Stuart sessions are completed in a single day at the Palm City office, with virtual mediation available for parties who cannot attend in person.

What Does Divorce Mediation Cost in Stuart, FL?

Divorce mediation in Stuart costs a fraction of contested litigation in the Martin County Courthouse because it resolves disputes in a single shared session rather than through sequential filings, depositions, and hearings, so Stuart families spend less on legal fees.

Cost Category	Contested Litigation	Divorce Mediation
Attorney/mediator fees	$10,000–$30,000 per party in 2023 for cases reaching a final hearing, per the Florida Bar’s 2023 Economics and Law Office Management	A single mediator fee, typically shared between both parties
Timeline	12–24 months of ongoing legal fees and court dates	Most Stuart cases resolve in one session
Post-judgment modification	Higher — terms imposed by a judge are often revisited in court	Lower — parties who negotiate their own terms understand and follow them more consistently

Private mediation is billed at an agreed hourly or flat rate; court-ordered mediation follows the 19th Judicial Circuit’s fee schedule. Contact the practice to discuss which applies to your Stuart case.

Family Law Matters Mediated for Stuart Couples

Stuart couples can mediate the full range of contested family law matters listed below, from contested divorce to paternity disputes.

Service	What It Resolves for Stuart Families
Family Law Mediation	Contested divorce, legal separation, and post-judgment modifications
Alimony Mediation	Bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, durational, and permanent alimony disputes governed by Florida Statutes §61.08 in Florida
Child Support Mediation	Florida Child Support Guidelines calculations and modification requests
Equitable Distribution	Marital asset and debt division under Florida Statute §61.075 for Martin County families
Timesharing Disputes	Parenting plans, holiday schedules, and relocation disputes
Paternity Mediation	Parental rights, timesharing, and support agreements for unmarried parents
Pro Se Mediation	Structured sessions for self-represented Stuart parties
LGBTQ Families & Domestic Partnership	Dissolution, parenting plans, and domestic partnership agreements

Ready to resolve your Stuart family law matter without a courtroom trial? Call or schedule online — most cases start with a single consultation.

Choosing the Right Divorce Mediator in Stuart

Not every mediator has the same training or track record, so it’s worth vetting a candidate before committing. Goade is a certified mediator (since 1993) and holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status in Family Law from the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) (2006), as well as an AV Preeminent peer-review rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

If you’re comparing mediators, our guide on finding a mediator walks through what to ask about training and case history before your first session.

Our full list of mediator interview questions covers fee structure and additional topics to raise in that first conversation.

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

“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 Stuart divorce hearing? 

Yes. Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure 12.740 requires parties in most contested Martin County family law cases within the 19th Judicial Circuit to attempt mediation before a judge hears the disputed matters at the Martin County Courthouse in Stuart.

Who is the certified divorce mediator serving Stuart, FL? 

Goade is a certified family mediator serving Stuart and greater Martin County since 1993. She holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status since 2006 and an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and practices exclusively in family law mediation from her nearby Palm City office.

How much does divorce mediation cost in Stuart? 

Mediation fees vary by mediator and case complexity, but most Stuart couples resolve their matter in one or two sessions — far less than the $10,000–$30,000 per party that contested litigation costs in 2023, per the Florida Bar’s Economics and Law Office Management survey findings.

How long does a Stuart divorce mediation session take? 

Most sessions with Goade resolve all four mediation stages in a single day at the Palm City office, helping Stuart families avoid the extended timelines that contested 19th Judicial Circuit litigation at the Martin County Courthouse routinely requires, so cases can be resolved in one visit.

Is mediation confidential in Stuart, FL? 

Yes. Under Florida Statute §44.405, communications made during mediation are confidential and generally cannot be used as evidence in later Martin County Courthouse proceedings, protecting Stuart couples’ privacy during negotiations. Only the final signed agreement becomes part of the court record.

Can we mediate in Stuart if we don’t have children? 

Yes. Couples without minor children can still use mediation to negotiate alimony, asset division, and debts. The same confidential, single-session process applies whether or not custody or timesharing is involved, so Stuart couples without children access the identical mediation process available to parents.

Does Ann Goade offer virtual mediation for Stuart parties? 

Yes. Virtual mediation using enhanced video conferencing is available for Stuart parties who cannot attend in person at the Palm City office, so distance within Martin County does not prevent access to certified mediation for Stuart families balancing work and childcare schedules.

What happens if mediation doesn’t resolve our Stuart case? 

Mediation is voluntary, and if the parties don’t reach a signed agreement, the case can proceed to attorney negotiation or a contested hearing at the Martin County Courthouse. Couples can still narrow the disputed matters even without full resolution before trial.

How do I schedule a mediation in Stuart? 

Stuart residents can schedule a mediation with Goade by calling (772) 288-7275, emailing info@anngoade.com, or booking directly online — no attorney referral is required to get started, and virtual sessions are available for parties who cannot meet in person at the Palm City office.

Stuart families trust Goade to resolve divorce, custody, and support disputes without the extended timelines of litigation at the Martin County Courthouse. ACR Advanced Practitioner since 2006.  Call (772) 288-7275, email info@anngoade.com, or schedule online.