Judge Maria Espinosa Dennis (Ret.)
Real-Time Availability Calendar
Judge Maria Espinosa Dennis (Ret.)
BILINGUAL – ENGLISH & SPANISH
Mediation Rates:
– 2 Party Case: $500 per hour
– 3 Party Case: $525 per hour
– 4 Party Case: $550 per hour
Minimum Fees:
– Half Day – 2 hours, or the amount of time reserved if more than 2 hours
– Full Day – 6 hours, or the amount of time reserved if more than 6 hours
The mediation fee is calculated based on your Mediator’s hourly billing rate as detailed above including any pre-mediation preparation time and post-mediation follow-up time spent on the matter. Note: we do not charge any administrative, scheduling, or rescheduling fees. In exchange we ask that you please respect our time and the cancellation policy below.
MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY
If the mediation is canceled or rescheduled less than 72 hours (Monday – Friday) prior to the scheduled session, each party will be billed for their portion of the minimum fee. Note: it is your responsibility to notify us of a schedule change or cancellation; you should not rely on another party to do so. Please keep in mind our cancellation policy is meant to fairly compensate your Mediator for reserving the time scheduled for this mediation, which typically cannot be filled in less than 72 hours.
- Family
- Probate, Guardianship & Trusts
- Real Estate Contracts
- Construction Litigation
- Business Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Condo/HOA Disputes
- Employment
- First Party Property
- Personal Injury
- Medical Malpractice
- Binding Arbitration
- Non-Binding Arbitration
Judge Maria Espinosa Dennis (Ret.) served for 22 years as a Circuit Judge for the 11th Judicial Circuit Court in every division: General Jurisdiction, Family, Probate, Criminal and Juvenile.
As a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil and Family Mediator and Qualified Arbitrator, Maria is fluent in Spanish and available to mediate all circuit civil, family and probate or guardianship cases statewide via Zoom.
CERTIFICATIONS
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Court Mediator
- Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator
- Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator
EDUCATION
- Florida International University, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Summa Cum Laude, 1981
- University of Miami, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, 1984
- Assistant State Attorney, Dade County State Attorney’s Office, 1986 – 1990
- Circuit Court Mediator (In-House), 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade, FL 1991
- – Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator
- – Florida Supreme Court Certified Civil Circuit Mediator
- – Florida Supreme Court Qualified Arbitrator
- The Espinosa Law Firm, P.A., Miami, Florida, 1991 – 2000
- Circuit Court Judge, 2000 – 2022
- – Associate Administrative Judge, Family Division, 2019 – 2022
- – 11th Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade, FL Judicial Assignments: Family Division, Probate Division, General Jurisdiction Division, Juvenile Delinquency Division, Criminal Division
- Chair, Monthly In-House Training Program for Family Division Judicial Officers, 2021 – 2022
- Member, 11th Judicial Circuit Emergency Classification Committee, 2021 – 2022
- Member, 11th Circuit General Magistrate Selection Committee, 2022
- YWCA of Greater Miami, Board of Directors
- Member, Florida Bar Grievance Committee, 2 Terms
- Florida Association of Family & Conciliation Courts
- Past Chair, Court Care Steering Committee, 2011
- Member, 11th Judicial Circuit Court Family Law Committee on Court Reporting Procedures
- Member, 11th Judicial Circuit Long Range Planning Committee
AWARDS RECIPIENT
- Dade County Bar Association, Pro Bono Service Award – Put Something Back Project, May 2011 – 2017
- Florida International University College of Law, Emma Tarafa Award Recipient – Legal Excellence Award, 2005
- Chair, In-House Training Program for Family Division Judicial Officers, 11th Circuit, 2021, 2022
- Speaker, 11th Circuit Family Division Training for Self-Help Program, “Avoiding the Pitfalls Associated with Entering Defaults”, 2021
- Speaker, 11th Circuit Family Division Training Program for New Judges, “Adoptions”, 2021
- Speaker, 11th Circuit Family Division New Judge’s Training, “Contempt”, 2021
- Speaker, St. Thomas Law School, “Benefits of Mediation in Probate Cases”, 2017
- DCBA Bench & Bar Probate Conference Panelist, “Guardianships”, 2017
- UM Law U Networking Breakfast with the Bench Participant, 2017 – 2020
- Member, Awards Selection Committee for Dade County Bar Association, 2016
- Speaker, 27th Annual View from the Bench, Dade County Bar Association, “Confidentiality of Court Records”, 2012
- Speaker, Bench & Bar Conference, Dade County Bar Association, “P.E.A.C.E. Final Judgments in Matrimonial Law”, 2012
- Speaker, 26th Annual View from the Bench, Dade County Bar Association, “Legislative Changes to Alimony Statute”, 2011
- Speaker, 11th Judicial Circuit Lunch & Learn Seminars, “Legislative Changes Affecting Alimony & Child Support”, 2011
- Speaker, Annual Meeting & Educational Symposium of Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors, “Expert Witness Testimony”, 2010
- Speaker, Miami Law Women Association, University of Miami, “Women in Leadership”, 2010
- Speaker, 32nd Annual Institute of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, “Equitable Distribution: The Marital Blender”, 2010