Pro Se Mediation Fort Lauderdale | Carolann Mazza, P.A.

Originally published: June 2026 | Reviewed by Carolann Mazza

Pro se mediation in Florida allows both spouses to resolve their divorce without hiring attorneys, using a certified mediator to guide negotiations, draft the settlement agreement, and prepare the documents needed for an uncontested court filing. 

Carolann Mazza, P.A., a Fort Lauderdale non-litigation family law firm practicing since 2001, serves self-represented couples throughout Broward County as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. 

Couples who mediate pro se reach binding written agreements faster and at $5,000 to $10,000 less in total cost than couples who retain separate attorneys.

Key Takeaways

• Pro se mediation in Florida is authorized under Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes, which permits divorcing spouses to represent themselves in dissolution proceedings.
• Carolann Mazza is a certified mediator and licensed Florida attorney practicing since 2001, serving both represented and self-represented Broward County couples.
• A completed pro se mediation produces a signed Marital Settlement Agreement and, where minor children are involved, a Parenting Plan ready for uncontested Broward County filing.
• Mediation communications are confidential under Florida Statute § 44.1011 and cannot be introduced as evidence in subsequent court proceedings.
• Pro se mediation is not appropriate in cases involving domestic violence, significant asset complexity, or substantial power imbalances between spouses.

Divorce without attorneys does not have to mean divorce without guidance. Contact Carolann Mazza, P.A., to schedule a pro se mediation session in Fort Lauderdale and build a settlement your family can live with. 

What Is Pro Se Mediation in Florida?

Pro se mediation in Florida is a divorce resolution process in which both spouses represent themselves — without retaining attorneys — and work with a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator to negotiate a complete written agreement on all issues. 

The mediator guides discussions, identifies areas of agreement, and, at the conclusion of a successful session, drafts the Marital Settlement Agreement and Parenting Plan.

“Pro se” derives from the Latin phrase for “for oneself.” Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes authorizes self-represented parties to advocate on their own behalf in dissolution of marriage proceedings. 

Pro se mediation does not eliminate the need for a certified mediator; it eliminates the need for each spouse to retain separate legal representation. The mediator remains neutral throughout the process and cannot provide legal advice to either party.

Carolann Mazza, P.A., serves pro se couples as a certified mediator — guiding the negotiation, drafting the final agreement, and explaining the steps needed to convert the signed Marital Settlement Agreement into a complete Broward County uncontested filing packet.

How Is Pro Se Mediation Different from Hiring a Divorce Attorney?

Pro se mediation and attorney-represented divorce serve different needs, and the right choice depends on the complexity of the marital estate, whether minor children are involved, and whether both spouses can negotiate directly without legal advocacy on each side.

Factor	Pro Se Mediation	Attorney-Represented Divorce
Who guides the process	One neutral certified mediator	One attorney per spouse
Legal advice provided	None — mediator is neutral	Yes — each attorney advises their client
Document drafting	Mediator drafts MSA and Parenting Plan	Attorney for each party drafts documents
Cost range (2026)	$500–$2,500 total	$2,500–$5,000+ per spouse
Best suited for	Couples who agree on most issues, have limited assets, and no complex property	Couples with significant assets, business interests, or complex parenting disputes
Florida authority	Chapter 61, Florida Statutes	Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct

Pro se mediation works best when both spouses communicate directly, agree on the major issues, and have a straightforward marital estate. 

Couples with significant retirement accounts, business ownership interests, or contested parenting arrangements benefit from retaining an attorney before and after mediation to review the agreement and identify legal issues the mediator cannot address as a neutral.

The firm also offers unbundled legal services to pro se couples who complete mediation and want an attorney to review the signed Marital Settlement Agreement before filing — a combination that delivers the cost savings of pro se mediation with targeted legal protection at the document review stage.

What Does Pro Se Mediation Cost in Fort Lauderdale in 2026?

Pro se mediation in Fort Lauderdale costs $5,000 to $10,000 less than an attorney-represented divorce because both spouses share a single mediator’s fee rather than each paying separate attorney retainers and hourly fees.

Cost Item	Amount (2026)	Notes
Mediator fee — pro se session	$250–$400 per hour	Fort Lauderdale certified family mediators; both spouses share the fee
Typical session length	2–4 hours	Most pro se cases with limited assets resolve in one session
Total mediation cost	$500–$1,600	Based on 2–4 hours at shared mediator rates
Broward County filing fee	$409	Paid to the Broward County Clerk of Courts at petition submission
Summons issuance fee	$10	Required at filing
Service of process	$40–$150	Sheriff $40–$60; private process server $75–$150
Unbundled legal review (optional)	$500–$1,500	Attorney review of MSA before filing — recommended for cases with assets or children
Parent Education course (cases with children)	$15–$50 per parent	Required under Florida Statute § 61.21 before final judgment

A pro se divorce mediation in Fort Lauderdale with no minor children and limited shared assets typically costs $950 to $2,200 total from the first session through Broward County filing. 

Couples with minor children or any shared real estate, retirement accounts, or business interests should budget for an optional unbundled legal review of the Marital Settlement Agreement before submitting the filing packet.

What Issues Does Pro Se Mediation Resolve?

Pro se mediation addresses every substantive issue that must be resolved before a Florida dissolution of marriage can be filed as uncontested. A successful pro se mediation session results in a written agreement covering all of the following.

Equitable distribution covers all marital assets and liabilities acquired during the marriage. Florida Statute § 61.075 governs equitable distribution and presumes equal division of marital assets absent specific justification for departure. The Marital Settlement Agreement must identify, value, and allocate all marital assets and debts, including real property, retirement accounts, bank accounts, and shared liabilities.

Alimony requires both spouses to agree on whether support is owed, its type, amount, and duration. Florida Statute § 61.08 governs alimony and was amended effective July 1, 2023. Permanent alimony is no longer available for marriages ending after July 1, 2023, under Florida Statute § 61.08.

Timesharing and parental responsibility govern how both parents share time with and decision-making authority over minor children. Florida Statute § 61.13 establishes a rebuttable presumption of equal timesharing as of July 1, 2023. The Parenting Plan must address the time-sharing schedule, holiday rotation, school enrollment, and all major decisions regarding parental responsibilities.

Child support is calculated under Florida’s income shares model in Florida Statute § 61.30. Parents cannot waive child support — the court reviews the child support worksheet to verify the calculation satisfies statutory guidelines, regardless of the parties’ private agreement.

What Is the Difference Between Pre-Suit and Court-Ordered Pro Se Mediation?

Florida pro se mediation occurs at two distinct stages, and the procedural differences affect how the agreement is processed and filed in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit.

Pre-suit pro se mediation takes place before either spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Both spouses voluntarily retain a certified mediator, negotiate all issues, and sign the Marital Settlement Agreement privately. 

The petitioning spouse then files the petition and the signed MSA together, streamlining judicial review and reducing the total time to Final Judgment. Pre-suit mediation is the preferred route for couples who agree that divorce is the outcome and want to reach a final resolution before entering the court system.

Court-ordered pro se mediation occurs after one spouse files a petition and the presiding judge in Broward County’s 17th Judicial Circuit orders the parties to mediation before scheduling a hearing. 

The Broward County Court Mediation and Arbitration Program at the 17th Judicial Circuit coordinates court-ordered family mediation referrals. 

Broward County’s court mediation program applies income limitations — combined net income of less than $100,000 per year — for program-subsidized sessions. Couples above that threshold are referred to private certified mediators.

Carolann Mazza, P.A., serves pro se couples at both stages — pre-suit and court-ordered — and prepares the Broward County filing packet at the conclusion of a successful pre-suit session so the uncontested petition is ready for immediate submission.

Are Pro Se Mediation Agreements Confidential in Florida?

Pro se mediation communications are confidential under Florida Statute § 44.1011, which establishes mediation privilege as an exception to general disclosure requirements. 

Statements made during mediation, documents prepared specifically for mediation, and the mediator’s notes cannot be introduced as evidence in any subsequent court proceeding in Florida.

The mediator cannot be called as a witness to testify about anything disclosed during the session. Confidentiality protections under Florida Statute § 44.1011 apply regardless of whether the mediation results in a full agreement. 

Three narrow exceptions exist: mediation communications that reveal child abuse, elder abuse, or a threat of violence are not protected by mediation privilege and may be reported.

Confidentiality under Florida Statute § 44.1011 covers the negotiation process — the protection does not cover the signed Marital Settlement Agreement itself, which becomes a court record when filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts as part of the uncontested dissolution packet.

When Is Pro Se Mediation Not Appropriate in Florida?

Pro se mediation is not appropriate in every case. The firm evaluates each inquiry to confirm the process is suitable before scheduling a session.

• Domestic violence or active protective orders. Florida courts may waive mandatory mediation requirements under Florida family law rules when domestic violence creates a safety concern or prevents one party from participating without fear. The Broward County Courthouse provides domestic violence resources through the Family Court Services division at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale.
  Complex marital estate. Pro se mediation requires additional caution — and typically unbundled legal review or full representation — when the marital estate includes a business interest requiring valuation, retirement accounts requiring a Qualified Domestic Relations Order for division, or real property with equity disputes. 

The mediator identifies issues but cannot advise either party on whether a proposed term adequately protects their legal rights.

• Significant income gap or financial information disparity. Pro se mediation carries a greater risk when one party controls all financial records or earns substantially more than the other party. A mediator facilitates negotiation but cannot correct an agreement that results from one party’s superior leverage or incomplete financial disclosure.

What Happens After Pro Se Mediation in Broward County?

A successful pro se mediation session produces a signed Marital Settlement Agreement — and, when minor children are involved, a signed Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet. 

The signed Marital Settlement Agreement, Parenting Plan, and Child Support Worksheet become the uncontested filing packet submitted to the Broward County Clerk of Courts.

• File the petition. The petitioning spouse files the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage together with the signed Marital Settlement Agreement, financial affidavits from both parties, and all required Florida Family Law Forms.
• Serve the non-filing spouse. The non-filing spouse waives service or is formally served and files a response acknowledging the uncontested nature of the case.
• Wait out the response period. Florida Statute § 61.052 requires a 20-day response period from the date of service before the court can enter a Final Judgment.
• Complete the parent education course (cases with children). Both divorcing parents must complete a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course under Florida Statute § 61.21 from a provider approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families before the Final Judgment is entered.
• Receive the Final Judgment. The judge reviews the filing packet and enters the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, legally ending the marriage.

The firm prepares the complete Broward County filing packet at the conclusion of a successful pre-suit pro se mediation session, covering every required document so that the submission is ready for judicial review without procedural delay. 

Couples who want to understand the full timeline from mediation through Final Judgment can review each stage in detail in the divorce process guide, which covers Florida dissolution steps. 

Couples considering whether collaborative divorce or pro se mediation is the better fit can explore the differences on the collaborative divorce page and review how a signed agreement moves through the out-of-court settlement process in Broward County.

Your divorce does not have to go through the courts to be resolved fairly. Contact Carolann Mazza, P.A., to schedule a pro se mediation session in Fort Lauderdale. Call (954) 527-4604.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pro se mediation in a Florida divorce? 

Pro se mediation in a Florida divorce is a process in which both spouses represent themselves without attorneys and work with a certified mediator to negotiate a Marital Settlement Agreement. The mediator guides discussions and drafts the final agreement but cannot provide legal advice to either party under Florida Statute § 44.1011.

Does Florida allow divorcing spouses to represent themselves without an attorney? 

Florida allows self-represented parties in dissolution proceedings under Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes. Self-represented parties are called pro se litigants. Pro se spouses bear full responsibility for completing and filing all required Florida Family Law Forms accurately and meeting all Broward County court deadlines.

How many sessions does pro se mediation typically require? 

Pro se mediation in Fort Lauderdale typically resolves in 1 to 3 sessions, depending on the complexity of assets and whether minor children are involved. Couples with limited shared assets and no minor children often reach full agreement in a single 2 to 4-hour session. Cases involving minor children, real property, or retirement accounts may require two to three sessions to fully address all financial and parenting terms.

Is a pro se mediation agreement legally binding in Florida? 

A signed Marital Settlement Agreement produced through pro se mediation is legally binding once filed and approved by the court as part of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage under Florida Statute § 61.052. The agreement carries the same enforceability as any court-ordered judgment once incorporated into the Final Judgment.

Can Carolann Mazza review our pro se mediation agreement before we file? 

Carolann Mazza, P.A., offers unbundled legal services that include attorney review of a self-negotiated or mediator-drafted Marital Settlement Agreement before submission to the Broward County Clerk of Courts. Targeted document review costs $500 to $1,500 and identifies errors, omissions, and unenforceable provisions before they become part of the court record.

Does pro se mediation work for divorces with minor children? 

Pro se mediation is appropriate for divorces involving minor children when both spouses negotiate the Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet cooperatively. Florida Statute § 61.13 requires every Parenting Plan to address time-sharing, parental responsibility, and major decision-making. Both divorcing parents must also complete a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course under Florida Statute § 61.21 before the court enters a Final Judgment.

What is the difference between pre-suit and court-ordered mediation in Florida? 

Pre-suit mediation occurs before either spouse files a dissolution petition and produces a signed agreement that becomes the uncontested filing. Court-ordered mediation occurs after filing when the Broward County judge assigns the parties to mediation before a hearing date.

Does pro se mediation require both parties to be physically present in Fort Lauderdale? 

Carolann Mazza, P.A., offers virtual pro se mediation sessions, allowing both spouses to participate remotely when in-person attendance is not possible. Virtual mediation produces the same binding Marital Settlement Agreement as an in-person session and allows Broward County couples to complete the process without travel constraints.