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Family and Couples Mediation

Our Services

Family Mediation and Couples Mediation

At Sage Mediation, we help families and couples work through challenging situations with clarity and respect. A Florida Supreme Court-certified Family Mediator, Sarah assists couples in resolving disputes related to divorce and paternity issues. Mediation is a structured process that helps parents resolve custody, parenting schedules, and financial issues without leaving decisions to the court.

We also offer couples mediation to address ongoing communication issues, decision-making conflicts, or other concerns that may be straining a partnership. Our goal is to alleviate the stress and emotional toll of conflict, providing all parties with a clearer path forward.

 

couples mediation, family mediation

Preparing for Mediation?

Download a Florida Divorce & Paternity Mediation Checklist to help you gather information, think through decisions, and feel more prepared going into mediation.

Florida Divorce Mediation Checklist

Sarah Hannah-Spurlock is a Florida Supreme Court-certified Circuit Civil, Family, and County mediator with 25+ years of experience resolving complex disputes.

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What sets Sage Mediation and Consulting apart?

Professionalism and Clarity You Can Trust

Professionalism is more than showing up prepared—it’s about creating an environment where both parties feel heard, respected, and supported. Clients often remark on Sarah’s ability to guide difficult conversations without bias, keep the process on track, and ensure that everyone leaves knowing their voice mattered.

Conflict can feel overwhelming, especially when legal terms or emotional stakes make communication difficult. I specialize in breaking issues down into digestible components so parties can understand what’s at stake, what their options are, and how those options affect their future. This clarity often leads to breakthroughs.

Resolution doesn’t mean winning or losing—it means moving forward. Sarah helps parties see situations through each other’s eyes, which reduces defensiveness and opens the door to cooperation. This perspective shift is often what transforms conflict into a resolution that works for everyone involved.

Sarah is not an attorney

Opting for a non-attorney mediator like Sarah in your divorce or family dispute resolution process brings a fresh perspective that emphasizes neutrality, understands the core issues at stake, and fosters an open dialogue and collaborative solution-finding environment. Without the constraints of a legal framework, Sarah focuses on what truly matters to the parties involved, steering discussions toward understanding and mutual agreement rather than entrenched legal positions.

Sarah’s extensive experience outside of the legal field equips her with unique skills, enabling her to approach conflicts with innovative solutions that might not emerge within traditional legal reasoning. Her role as a neutral facilitator encourages all parties to communicate more openly, breaking down barriers to cooperation and allowing for a more fluid, constructive dialogue.

This approach not only leads to more personalized and satisfactory resolutions but is also cost-effective, saving parties the extensive fees often associated with legal proceedings. By prioritizing the interests and needs of the parties over legal technicalities, Sarah creates a space where solutions are not only reached collaboratively but are also more likely to be sustainable and mutually beneficial in the long run.

Choosing Sarah for your divorce, paternity dispute, or couples mediation needs means investing in a process that values your voice, seeks creative resolutions, and aims for outcomes that respect the interests of all involved.

Flexible Hours and Affordable Rates

Her rates are affordable for everyone, particularly couples with a combined income of $150,000 or less. Quality mediation should be accessible to everyone and provide exceptional service without breaking the bank.

Flexible Scheduling: Life is busy, and finding time for mediation can be a hurdle. Sarah offers flexible hours to accommodate your schedule, including evenings and weekends. Your time is valuable, and I am committed to providing convenient options to fit your life.

Why Choose Mediation to Resolve Your Divorce or FamilyDispute?

Swift and Efficient: Divorces taken to court can drag on for weeks or months, consuming valuable mental and financial resources. SMC mediation services offer a streamlined and peaceful approach to divorce or family disputes, enabling all parties involved to arrive at mutually agreeable solutions in a fraction of the time.

Cost-Effective: The financial burden of a courtroom battle can be overwhelming. SMC mediation provides a more affordable option, saving you from the exorbitant costs associated with court. SMC also offers lower rates for couples with a combined income of $150,000 or less.

Preserving Relationships: SMC mediation offers open communication and understanding in disputes where ongoing relationships matter. Unlike the adversarial nature of the court room, mediation strives for cooperation and collaboration.

Personalized and Flexible Approach: Every case is unique, and SMC understands that. The mediation process is tailored to suit your situation’s needs and dynamics, ensuring a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to resolution.

Neutral Ground: SMC mediation sessions provide a neutral and confidential environment for all parties to discuss their concerns, interests, and perspectives openly. This environment fosters a productive atmosphere for finding common ground.

Empowerment: SMC mediation empowers you to actively participate in shaping the outcome. Rather than leaving decisions to a judge, you retain control over the solutions that best align with your family’s interests.

Client-Centric Approach: At Sage Mediation and Consulting, you’re not a case number but a valued individual seeking resolution. The client-centric approach ensures that your unique needs and concerns are at the forefront of our efforts.

Mediation FAQ’s

Yes, in most Florida counties, mediation is required before a contested divorce case can go to trial. Courts routinely order parties to attempt mediation before a judge will hear the case. Many couples also choose to mediate before filing — called pre-suit mediation — to resolve issues faster and with less cost.

Family mediation can address the full range of divorce and family disputes, including division of assets and debts, alimony, parenting plans, time-sharing schedules, child support, and decision-making authority. Mediation can also help with post-judgment modifications when circumstances change after a divorce is finalized.

A typical divorce mediation session in Florida lasts three to four hours, though complex cases may require a full day or multiple sessions. Pre-suit mediation often resolves issues in one to three sessions. Cases resolved through mediation take weeks, compared to months or years in litigation.

Mediation is significantly less expensive than contested divorce litigation. Court battles can cost each party tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees and court costs. Sage Mediation and Consulting offers reduced rates for couples with a combined income of $150,000 or less. Click on the “Schedule Now” Link at the top of the page for more details.

You are not required to have an attorney present during mediation in Florida. Many people mediate without attorneys and find the process more straightforward as a result. Consulting with an attorney before or after mediation to review any agreement is always your right — your mediator is a neutral facilitator, not a legal advisor.

Mediation can still be productive even when one party is reluctant. A skilled mediator creates a structured environment that helps both parties focus on practical outcomes rather than positions. Both parties must be willing to participate in good faith — mediation cannot force a resolution, only facilitate one.

Court-ordered mediation occurs after a divorce case has been filed and the court requires the parties to attempt to resolve the case before trial. Pre-suit mediation happens before any court filing, giving couples a faster, more private, and lower-cost path to agreement. Both are legally valid, and agreements can be submitted to the court as part of a final judgment.

A parenting plan is a written agreement that outlines how parents will share time and responsibilities for their children after separation or divorce. Florida courts require a parenting plan in all cases involving minor children. Mediation is one of the most effective ways to develop a parenting plan because it lets both parents shape the terms rather than leaving those decisions to a judge.

Yes. AI tools are increasingly part of family disputes — from AI-generated communications used as evidence to disagreements over financial data pulled from automated platforms. Mediation can address these issues in a structured, private setting without the delays and expense of litigation. Because courts are still developing standards for AI-related evidence and tools, resolving these questions through mediation now often produces a faster, more predictable outcome than leaving them to a judge.

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