Neutral resolution
Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediation for Family Formation Disputes
Karen Persis serves as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator — a neutral third party helping people resolve disputes outside the courtroom. In this role as a mediator, Karen can help resolve disputes between intended parents, surrogates, and donors.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process in which a neutral third party — the mediator — helps parties work through their issues and, ideally, reach a written agreement they both can live with. The mediator does not decide the case or advocate for either side. Instead, the mediator manages the conversation, identifies common ground, and helps translate the parties’ priorities into workable terms.
When mediation makes sense
Karen mediates disputes across the family formation spectrum, including:
- Gestational Surrogacy Agreement disputes between Intended Parents and Surrogate
- Embryo Disposition disputes between co-owners of the embryos
- Disputes between Intended Parents and Egg, Sperm, or Embryo Donors
- Adoption
Litigation is costly, time-consuming, and stressful. Mediation can help people resolve their issues without spending time and money bringing a case through the court system. Mediation is especially valuable when the parties will need to continue working together, such as in a gestational surrogacy arrangement.
The Process
A typical family mediation begins with the mediator meeting with all parties, usually with their attorneys present. Mediation can easily take place virtually through videoconference. The mediator explains the process and confidentiality protections, hears each party’s perspective, and works through the issues systematically. If the parties reach agreement, the mediator helps them memorialize the terms in writing.
Considering mediation? Learn if it’s right for your situation.