We now offer Virtual Mediations using Enhanced Video Conferencing
Originally published: February 2021 | Updated: April 2026
Ann M. Goade, Esq. provides Pro Se mediation for Florida families who choose to navigate divorce, custody, and support proceedings without an attorney — so self-represented parties in Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties reach a written, court-ready agreement through a structured neutral process.
Florida Supreme Court certified since 1993. ACR Advanced Practitioner (2006).
Pro Se mediation is a structured, confidential negotiation process in which a Florida Supreme Court-certified neutral facilitates agreement between self-represented parties — so both sides can resolve contested divorce, timesharing, child support, and property division issues without retaining separate attorneys in litigation.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. has conducted Pro Se mediation on the Treasure Coast for over 30 years, holds ACR Advanced Practitioner status in Family Law (2006), and conducts all Pro Se sessions via Zoom video conferencing — so Florida families can access certified mediation from any location in the state without travel costs or scheduling barriers.
Schedule a Pro Se mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq.
Pro Se mediation is a Florida family court process in which both parties represent themselves — without retained litigation attorneys — and work with a certified mediator to reach a written agreement on all contested issues.
Under Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.720 and Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740, Florida circuit courts require mediation in most contested family law cases before a judge will hear disputed issues, so Pro Se parties must attempt mediation regardless of whether they have retained attorneys.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. is a Pro Se mediator serving the Treasure Coast and Florida statewide — a certified neutral who facilitates structured negotiation between self-represented parties without providing legal advice to either side. Ann M. Goade, Esq. does not represent either party, does not advise either party on legal strategy, and holds no financial interest in whether the case settles or proceeds to court — so both self-represented parties receive the same quality of neutral facilitation that attorney-represented parties receive in private mediation.
The Florida Bar’s 2023 Economics and Law Office Management Survey documents median attorney fees of $15,000 to $50,000 per party for contested Florida family law cases reaching a final hearing.
Ann M. Goade, Esq., charges $300 per hour with a two-hour minimum — so the floor cost of Pro Se mediation is $600, split equally between the parties.
| Cost Category | Pro Se Mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. | Contested Florida Circuit Court Litigation |
| Professional fee | $300/hour — $600 minimum split between both parties | $15,000–$50,000+ per party — Florida Bar 2023 Economics Survey |
| Billing structure | 15-minute increments after a 2-hour minimum | Hourly billing across all filings, hearings, and depositions |
| Case timeline | Single session resolves most cases | 12–24 months in the Florida circuit court |
| Filing fee | ~$408 standard Florida circuit court fee | $408 plus sequential motion and hearing fees |
| Agreement drafting | Included — Ann M. Goade, Esq. drafts court-ready agreement | Separate attorney drafting fee per document |
| Court submission | Included — Ann M. Goade, Esq., handles all paperwork | Attorney billing for each filing event |
Both parties pay the mediator’s fee equally by credit card once they confirm the session date and time. Additional time beyond the two-hour minimum is billed at $300 per hour in 15-minute increments.
Contact Ann M. Goade, Esq. at (772) 288-7275 to discuss Pro Se mediation fees before scheduling.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. mediates the following contested issue categories for Pro Se parties across Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties:
| Issue Category | Florida Law Reference |
| Divorce and legal separation | Florida Statute §61.052 — grounds and filing requirements |
| Timesharing and parenting plans | Florida Statute §61.13 — parenting plan requirements |
| Child support | Florida Child Support Guidelines, §61.30 |
| Alimony | Florida Statute §61.08 — types and duration |
| Equitable distribution | Florida Statute §61.075 — marital asset and debt division |
| Paternity and parental rights | Florida Statute §742.031 |
| Simplified dissolution | Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105 — available where no minor children exist and both parties agree on all terms |
Pro Se parties who reach an agreement on all contested issues through mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. produce a mediated settlement agreement that Florida circuit court judges incorporate directly into the final judgment of dissolution — so self-represented parties leave mediation with a complete, court-ready resolution.
Ann M. Goade, Esq., conducts all Pro Se mediation sessions via Zoom video conferencing — so Florida families can access Florida Supreme Court-certified Pro Se mediation from any location in the state without travel costs, without office visit requirements, and without geographic barriers that prevent self-represented parties from reaching a certified mediator.
The Zoom format specifically addresses the three logistical barriers that prevent Pro Se parties from completing mediation: geographic distance from a mediator’s physical office, work-schedule conflicts that make weekday in-person sessions impractical, and the additional travel costs that compound the financial pressure self-represented parties already face.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. provides complete Zoom access instructions before every session — so parties unfamiliar with video conferencing technology arrive prepared rather than spending session time on technical setup.
Pro Se mediation sessions with Ann M. Goade, Esq. are available to Florida families statewide — so Treasure Coast families in Stuart, Palm City, Hobe Sound, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Jupiter, and West Palm Beach, and families across Florida, access certified Pro Se mediation through a single scheduling step.
Virtual mediation details and scheduling are available through Ann M. Goade, Esq.’s online scheduling page.
Pro Se mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. follows a structured three-phase process that produces a signed written agreement in a single session for most Florida families.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. contacts both parties before the session to confirm all contested issues, identify financial disclosure documents required under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285, confirm payment by credit card, and send Zoom access instructions — so both parties arrive at the session prepared to negotiate a complete written agreement without administrative delays.
Ann M. Goade, Esq., opens the session with both parties present to explain the process and confirm confidentiality protections under Florida Statute §44.405 — so all communications made during the session stay outside the public court record.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. then conducts private caucuses with each party separately to identify priorities, clarify positions, and narrow contested issues — so both parties negotiate from an informed position without direct confrontation driving the session off course.
When both parties reach an agreement, Ann M. Goade, Esq. drafts the mediated settlement agreement in language that Florida circuit court judges incorporate directly into the final judgment without additional revision.
Ann M. Goade, Esq,. handles all required paperwork and court submission, so Pro Se parties complete the dissolution process without outstanding administrative steps after the session ends.
Pro Se mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. produces one of three outcomes, so self-represented Florida parties understand what each outcome means for their circuit court case before the session begins.
Both parties reach a written agreement on all contested issues. Ann M. Goade, Esq. drafts the mediated settlement agreement, both parties sign before the session concludes, and Ann M. Goade, Esq. submits the agreement to the Florida circuit court for incorporation into the final judgment.
Both parties reach a written agreement on some contested issues, but not all. The partial mediated agreement is legally binding on the issues it covers under Florida law, so the circuit court judge decides only the remaining unresolved issues, thereby significantly reducing contested hearing time and litigation costs.
Both parties are unable to reach an agreement on any contested issues. Ann M. Goade, Esq., declares an impasse and refers the case back to the Florida circuit court, so the judge hears all contested issues at a final hearing. An impasse does not affect either party’s legal rights or court standing.
Most Pro Se mediation sessions with Ann M. Goade, Esq., produce full agreement. Cases involving multiple contested financial issues or high-conflict parenting disputes may require a follow-up session before full agreement is reached.
Pro Se Treasure Coast families ready to resolve their family law matter without attorney fees —schedule a Pro Se mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. or call (772) 288-7275.
Ann M. Goade, Esq., differentiates from other Florida Pro Se mediators on four independently verifiable professional grounds.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. received her Florida Supreme Court family mediation certification in 1993, so Pro Se parties have access to over 30 years of certified neutral experience rather than a recently credentialed mediator without a proven case record.
The Association for Conflict Resolution awarded Ann M. Goade, Esq. Advanced Practitioner status in Family Law in 2006 following independent peer review and verified practice hours — so Pro Se parties receive facilitation from a practitioner whose expertise has been evaluated by an independent professional body, not self-reported.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. has practiced exclusively in family law mediation since 1993 and does not represent parties in contested litigation, so Pro Se parties receive neutral facilitation from a mediator with no competing professional interest in the outcome.
Ann M. Goade, Esq. drafts the mediated settlement agreement and handles Florida circuit court submission as part of every Pro Se mediation session — so self-represented parties face no additional drafting costs or administrative steps after the session ends.
Learn more about Ann M. Goade, Esq. and her verified credentials.
What is Pro Se mediation in Florida family court?
Pro Se mediation is a structured negotiation process in which self-represented Florida parties work with a certified mediator to reach a written agreement on divorce, timesharing, child support, and property division without retaining litigation attorneys. Ann M. Goade, Esq., conducts Pro Se mediation across Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties.
Does Florida require Pro Se parties to attempt mediation before a court hearing?
Florida requires mediation before most contested family law hearings under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.740 — so Pro Se parties must attempt mediation before a circuit court judge hears contested divorce, timesharing, or support issues, regardless of whether they are represented by an attorney.
How much does Pro Se mediation cost with Ann M. Goade, Esq.?
Ann M. Goade, Esq. charges $300 per hour for Pro Se mediation with a two-hour minimum, so the minimum total cost is $600, divided equally between both parties. Additional session time is billed at $300 per hour in 15-minute increments.
Can Pro Se parties bring an attorney to mediation in Florida?
Pro Se parties may consult with an attorney before or after a Florida mediation session. Either party may also choose to retain attorney representation at any point during the Pro Se process — so choosing Pro Se mediation does not permanently waive either party’s right to seek legal counsel.
What documents do Pro Se parties need to bring to mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq.?
Pro Se parties prepare financial affidavits, tax returns, asset documentation, and debt records required under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 before the session. Ann M. Goade, Esq,. confirms the complete document list with both parties during pre-session intake, so no party arrives without the financial information needed to negotiate a complete written agreement.
What happens if Pro Se mediation does not reach a full agreement?
Pro Se mediation that does not reach full agreement produces either a partial agreement — binding on all resolved issues — or a complete impasse that returns all contested issues to the Florida circuit court judge. A partial agreement reduces the scope of contested hearings and litigation costs, even when a full agreement is not reached.
Can Pro Se parties use mediation to complete a Florida simplified dissolution?
Pro Se parties pursuing a simplified dissolution under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105 — available where no minor children exist and both parties agree on all terms — use mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. to produce the written agreement required for court submission.
Does Ann M. Goade, Esq. offer virtual Pro Se mediation for Florida families statewide?
Ann M. Goade, Esq. conducts all Pro Se mediation sessions via Zoom video conferencing — so Florida families can access certified Pro Se mediation from any location in Florida without traveling to her Palm City, Florida office.
Self-represented families across Martin, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties — and statewide across Florida — schedule Pro Se mediation with Ann M. Goade, Esq. to resolve divorce, custody, and support disputes without attorney fees or extended Florida circuit court timelines.
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