IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2008-034 PA/PI-CIR

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RE:     FAMILY MEDIATION – ADDITIONAL CHANGES

 

Due to Legislative changes to section 44.108 Florida Statutes, (see Ch. 2008-111, Laws of Florida) it is necessary to make further adjustments to the court provided family mediation program.  The fee amount collected by the Clerk of the Circuit Court from parties ordered to participate in court provided family mediation service has increased.  Because of the fee increase persons whose combined gross income is less than $100,000 will be eligible for court provided mediation. 

 

Accordingly, it is

 

ORDERED:

 

            1.  For cases ordered to mediation on or after July 1, 2008, Administrative Order 2005-005 PA/PI-CIR is hereby modified to reflect the following changes.

 

a.       Only parties whose combined gross income is less than $100,000 are eligible for court provided mediation.   All calculations of income to determine eligibility for the program will be based upon gross income.

 

b.      For purposes of determining eligibility for court provided mediation, parties may use a current Florida Family Law Financial Affidavit (Family Law Form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c)), an Affidavit of Income for Purposes of Establishing Mediation Fees, or a Financial Affidavit all of which are posted at www.jud6.org.  The local forms may be modified by the Chief Judge without further modification to this Administrative Order.

 

c.       Mediators for court provided mediation will be assigned on a rotation basis.  

 

d.      Mediator fees are as established in Administrative Order 2007-030 PA/PI-CIR.

 

e.       In accordance with Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.741, the court may order parties to mediation other than court provided mediation.

 

f.       When the Sixth Judicial Circuit’s Mediation Program provides court-ordered mediation services, the Clerk of Circuit Court will collect the following mediation fees:

 

i.    One hundred twenty dollars ($120.00) per person per session in family mediation when the parties' combined gross income is greater than $50,000, but less than $100,000 per year;

 

ii.   Sixty dollars ($60.00) per person per session in family mediation when the parties' combined gross income is less than $50,000 per year; or

 

iii.  Sixty dollars ($60.00) per person per session in county court cases when the Court determines the parties do not have the financial ability to pay the mediator fee. 

 

2.      As of April 1, 2008, Administrative Order 2006-062 PI-CIR, Automatic Referral to Mediation was modified to reflect the following change which is still in effect:

 

a.       In all St. Petersburg and Clearwater family law sections, post judgment matters and temporary support matters are automatically referred to mediation.  The mediation program should be contacted to determine parties’ eligibility for court provided mediation or private mediation.

 

3.      The following administrative orders remain in full force and effect:

 

a.       Administrative Order 2005-030 PA/PI-CIR Re:  Small Claims Pretrial Hearings and Mediation

 

b.      Administrative Order 2005-032 PA/PI-CIR Re:  Juvenile Dependency Mediation Appointment & Compensation

 

c.       Administrative Order 2007-030 PA/PI-CIR Re:  Mediation Program

 

All other terms and conditions of Administrative Orders 2005-005 PA/PI-CIR and 2006-062 PI-CIR remain in full force and effect.

 

            Administrative Order 2008-010 PA/PI-CIR is hereby rescinded.

 

DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida
this ____ day of June 2008.

                                                                             

 _______________________________

                                                                                     Robert J. Morris, Jr., Chief Judge

 

cc:        All Judges

            The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

            The Honorable Bob Dillinger, Public Defender

            The Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County

            The Honorable Jed Pittman, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pasco County

            Carol Heath, Executive Director, Pinellas County Clerk’s Office

            Debbie Gay, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco County Clerk’s Office

            Gay Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

            Kerry L. Rice, Deputy Courts Administrator, Pasco County

            Law Libraries, Pinellas and Pasco

            Bar Associations, Pinellas and Pasco