Free Consultation
(407) 834-5800
(407) 834-5800
ADR Mediation Center — Orlando, Florida
Written family agreements that define communication rules, financial responsibilities, and decision-making authority — before conflict escalates into legal disputes.
Charles Geller, Florida Supreme Court-certified Family Mediator, brings 30 years of clinical therapy practice and 20 years of certified mediation to every session.
The Problem
Informal family understandings fail because each party remembers the agreement differently, and no signed document exists to resolve the dispute. One co-parent understood the holiday schedule as flexible; the other understood it as fixed.
One adult sibling understood a parent's care arrangement as temporary; the other understood it as permanent. One spouse in a blended household understood a financial contribution as shared; the other understood it as optional.
The American Psychological Association has documented that children in households with ongoing, unresolved parental conflict experience measurably worse academic, behavioral, and emotional outcomes — regardless of divorce status. Written co-parenting agreements directly reduce the frequency and intensity of that conflict.
"The same argument keeps coming back because nothing was ever written down."
Without a written record, each party's recollection of the agreement diverges over time — creating conflict where none existed at signing.
Verbal agreements cannot be filed with a court, cannot be enforced through contempt proceedings, and provide no legal standing when challenged.
APA research confirms that unresolved parental conflict produces measurably worse outcomes for children — academically, behaviorally, and emotionally.
Services
Six distinct agreement types, each designed for a specific family situation — all produced through structured mediation with Charles Geller.
Separated or divorced parents
A co-parenting agreement fills the personal gaps that a standardized Florida Parenting Plan does not cover — communication protocols, schedule flexibility, boundaries for new partner introductions, and conflict resolution methods.
Remarried or re-partnered couples with children
Blended family agreements resolve the questions standard legal documents never address: which financial obligations belong to which parent, how household expenses are divided, what role a stepparent plays, and what happens to shared property.
Adult children and aging parents
Elder care disputes escalate for one reason: everyone agrees in principle, but nobody agrees in practice. An elder care agreement allocates physical care responsibilities, financial contributions, medical decision-making authority, and housing transition terms.
Couples preparing for or already in marriage
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements negotiated through mediation produce terms both parties agreed to — not terms competing attorneys imposed. Both agreement types are governed by the Florida Premarital Agreement Act, Section 61.079, Florida Statutes.
Former spouses
Florida divorce judgments are not permanent. Job loss, relocation, changes in a child's school or medical needs each qualify as a substantial change in circumstances under Section 61.13, Florida Statutes — and each may be the catalyst for a modification.
Extended families sharing a residence
Multi-generational households produce four predictable conflicts: financial contribution disputes, privacy boundary violations, disagreements over household responsibilities, and unresolved exit arrangements. A written household agreement addresses all of these.
Why Mediation
| Factor | Mediated Agreement | Unresolved or Litigated |
|---|---|---|
| Resolution timeline | ✓ One to two sessions | Months to years |
| Cost | ✓ Hourly mediation fee plus document preparation | Attorney retainers, court fees, and ongoing legal costs |
| Privacy | ✓ Fully confidential under Section 44.405, Florida Statutes | Public court record if litigated |
| Relationship impact | ✓ Collaborative — both parties authored the terms | Adversarial litigation permanently damages most family relationships |
| Compliance | ✓ Higher — both parties signed what they agreed to | Lower — externally imposed terms produce resentment |
| Future conflict | ✓ Reduced — specific written terms prevent recurring disputes | Higher — lack of specifics generates conflict |
| Who decides | ✓ Both parties | Florida domestic court judge |
How It Works
01
Charles Geller meets by phone or Zoom at no cost, identifies every issue requiring resolution, and determines the appropriate agreement type before the first session begins. After the consultation, both parties know exactly what mediation can and cannot accomplish for their situation.
02
Both parties reach a complete agreement in one or more sessions — in person at 933 Lee Road, Suite 406, Orlando, FL 32810, or via Zoom across all 67 Florida counties. Charles Geller works with both parties to reach mutually satisfactory decisions, ending the active mediation only when both parties have agreed on the terms.
03
The parties receive a complete, signed and notarized family agreement drafted in specific, unambiguous language. For agreements requiring Florida court filing — including post-divorce modifications and court-approved parenting plan changes — ADR Mediation Center prepares all required court documentation.
Initial consultation
Free — no obligation
Typical session length
2 to 3 hours
Sessions required
Most agreements: one session
Session fee
Billed hourly, collected at session end
Document preparation
50% before drafting, 50% on completion
Total cost
A fraction of one attorney's retainer
Complete Reference
| Agreement Type | Who It Serves | Core Issues Addressed |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Parenting Agreement | Separated or divorced parents | Communication protocols, schedule flexibility, new partner introductions, and conflict resolution |
| Blended Family Agreement | Remarried or re-partnered couples with children | Financial responsibilities, stepparent roles, household boundaries, property terms |
| Elder Care Agreement | Adult children and aging parents | Care responsibilities, financial contributions, medical decision-making, and housing transitions |
| Adult Sibling Agreement | Adult siblings with shared family obligations | Inherited property, parent care division, estate management, cost allocation |
| Prenuptial Agreement | Couples preparing for marriage | Asset protection, debt responsibility, alimony terms, business continuity |
| Postnuptial Agreement | Married couples | Same scope as prenuptial — executed during the marriage after circumstances change |
| Post-Divorce Modification | Former spouses | Parenting plan updates, child support changes, time-sharing adjustments, relocation terms |
| Multi-Generational Household Agreement | Extended families sharing a residence | Financial contributions, privacy boundaries, household responsibilities, exit arrangements |
Why Charles Geller
Charles Geller is perhaps the only Orlando family mediator who brings both Florida Supreme Court certification and 30 years of clinical therapy practice to every family agreement session.
Many Orlando mediators who are also attorneys approach family agreements through a legal lens alone. Charles Geller is able to identify the dynamic driving a dispute, and to support both parties in reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement.
"A co-parenting conflict about a holiday schedule is rarely only about the schedule. An adult sibling disagreement about a parent's care is rarely only about logistics."
Four conditions may disqualify family agreement mediation as a first step:
Charles Geller identifies each condition during the free initial consultation and directs both parties to the appropriate path before mediation begins.
Common Questions
A family agreement is a written document created through mediation that records responsibilities, boundaries, and dispute-resolution procedures between family members. ADR Mediation Center facilitates agreements for co-parents, blended families, adult siblings, elder care arrangements, and couples.
Family agreements can be legally enforceable, depending on the type of agreement. Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements must comply with Section 61.079, Florida Statutes, while court-related parenting agreements require approval by the circuit court to become enforceable orders.
Florida courts may invalidate a prenuptial agreement under Section 61.079 if a spouse signed under duress, lacked financial disclosure, lacked mental capacity, or if the agreement was unconscionable when executed.
Yes. Florida law allows married couples to sign a postnuptial agreement at any time during marriage under Section 61.079, Florida Statutes, provided both spouses voluntarily agree and exchange valid legal consideration.
A co-parenting communication protocol is a written agreement that defines how separated parents communicate about children. The protocol typically establishes communication methods, response expectations, tone standards, and procedures for resolving scheduling conflicts.
Yes. Grandparents may be included in a voluntary mediated family agreement if both parents consent. The agreement establishes expectations regarding family involvement and responsibilities. Grandparents cannot be obligated by the agreement between the parents, but can be approved by both to provide certain care and supervision.
Enforcement depends on the agreement type. Court-approved agreements may be enforced through contempt proceedings, while prenuptial, postnuptial, or household agreements are typically enforced as contracts in the Florida circuit court.
Yes. Parenting plan or support modifications require proof of a substantial change in circumstances under Section 61.13, Florida Statutes, and approval from the Florida circuit court that issued the original order.
Yes. ADR Mediation Center provides virtual mediation sessions through Zoom for families throughout all 67 Florida counties, and in-person mediation at 933 Lee Road, Suite 406, Orlando, Florida.
Client Testimonials
Real outcomes from Central Florida families who chose mediation to create lasting, written agreements.
"After months of tension, Charles helped my ex-husband and me put together a co-parenting agreement that actually works. Our kids have stability, and we have clarity. I wish we had done this from the start."
"We needed a blended-family agreement that covered everything — school decisions, holiday schedules, finances. Charles walked us through every detail patiently. The written agreement has already prevented two arguments."
"My mother and I were at an impasse over her care plan. Charles facilitated a conversation that we couldn't have on our own. We left with a signed elder-care agreement and, more importantly, our relationship intact."
Join hundreds of Central Florida families who chose mediation over litigation.
Get in Touch
Have a question about divorce mediation? Fill out the form below and Charles Geller will respond within one business day.
Get Started
Call ADR Mediation Center at (407) 834-5800 or book a free consultation today. Every week without a written agreement is another week the same conflict can restart.
