Mediation and ADR
Dependency mediation (Florida)
Florida termIn Florida, mediation of child welfare cases: dependency cases and cases about a child or a family that needs services. The parties mainly do the negotiating; lawyers may attend but aren't required unless the court orders it.[1]
In more detail
Dependency cases involve the state's child welfare system and a child's safety. Florida courts in circuits with a dependency mediation program may refer all or part of these matters to mediation.[2]
Varies by state
This is a Florida term. Other states call similar programs child welfare or child protection mediation. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- Guardian ad litemA person a court appoints to look out for a child's best interests in a case, for example by investigating and interviewing people who know about the child's welfare.
- Family mediationMediation of family matters such as divorce, property division, parental responsibility, child support, custody and visitation, for married and unmarried people, before and after a judgment.
- Court-ordered mediationMediation a judge sends a pending case to, on the court's own motion or at a party's request.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Dependency mediation (Florida): Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/dependency-mediation/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.