Mediation and ADR
Appearance at mediation
The attendance a court's rules require for a party to count as present at mediation. Many rules require someone who can actually settle to attend, not just a lawyer.[1][2]
In more detail
Florida's civil rules, for example, treat a party as appearing only when the party or a representative with full authority to settle attends, with counsel and, where relevant, an insurer's representative.[1] In the federal court for the Northern District of California, clients with settlement authority must attend mediation, and requests to join by phone are granted only in extraordinary circumstances.[2] Florida's statute adds that a party's lawyer of record must appear in circuit court mediation unless the parties stipulate or the court orders otherwise.[3]
Varies by state
Attendance rules differ by state, court and type of case; the referral order usually spells them out. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- Authority to settleThe power to agree to a settlement on a party's behalf without needing anyone else's approval.
- Remote mediationMediation held by video or phone instead of in person.
- Court-ordered mediationMediation a judge sends a pending case to, on the court's own motion or at a party's request.
- Good faith participationWillingness to take part in mediation sincerely, without any duty to settle.
Read next on MediationList
Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
- Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 1.700–1.750 (mediation), Oct. 1, 2026 edition (last read Oct. 10, 2026; not re-checked, because this host is on our do-not-fetch list)↩
- Mediation (ADR program)↩
- Fla. Stat. § 44.1011 (Definitions)↩
General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Cite this page
MediationList. (2026, October 28). Appearance at mediation: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/appearance-at-mediation/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.