If you do not have children - read about the conciliation process

What is Mediation for?

Mediation is for parents who need help in writing a parenting plan for their minor Children. If you and the other parent cannot agree on how legal decisions will be made for your children or when the children will spend time with each of you, you will be required to attend mediation. Mediation is when you meet with a neutral third party, and it is a free service through the Conciliation Court. This can be done any time after the other parent has filed a “response.”

What is Mediation not for?

Mediation is not for deciding child support or other money issues. It also will not help you enforce a parenting plan that is already in place. You cannot use mediation for paternity cases if paternity has not yet been established through the court.

Which form do I fill out?

There are 3 different forms that you can use to ask for mediation. The form that you choose will depend on your situation.

Are you and the other parent willing to attend mediation?

If you and the other parent are both willing to attend mediation, then use the form Request Mediation for Legal Decision-Making and Parenting Time. Both sides, either you and the other parents, or your attorneys must sign this form for mediation to happen. If the other parent is not willing to attend mediation or you are not sure if the other parent is willing to attend mediation, then answer the next question…

Do you have an active court case?

• Yes
  • If you have an active court case, then use the form CURRENT LEGAL DECISION-MAKING AND/OR PARENTING TIME ACTION BEFORE THE COURT.
  • Your active court case could be a divorce petition, a petition to change legal decision-making and/or parenting time after a divorce is final, or a paternity case where paternity has already been established through the court and one parents asked the court to start or change legal decision making and/or parenting time.
• No
  • If you do not have an active court case, then use the form NO CURRENT LEGAL DECISION-MAKING AND/OR PARENTING TIME ACTION BEFORE THE COURT (POST DECREE/POST JUDGEMENT)
  • You can also use this form if you have a paternity case where paternity has been established through the court but no parenting plan is in place. This goes with 3 addition forms: Response to Request for Post-Decree or Post Judgement Mediation, Request for Order Granting or Denying Request for Mediation, and Order Regarding Request for Post-Decree/Post Judgement Mediation.

If the Judge agrees in favor of mediation, the Conciliation Court will schedule the mediation and mail out the orders to appear.