The Friend of the Court provides domestic relations mediation as an alternative for resolving custody and parenting time disputes. A child's best interests are better served when a mother and father reach a mutually agreeable solution to the difficult problems of child custody and parenting time.
By actively participating in the decision-making process with the aid of a trained domestic relations expert, the parties are more inclined to live by the agreements and avoid disputes.
The Friend of the Court employees assigned to your case may hold a joint meeting to assist in resolving custody and parenting time disputes, and the discussion becomes part of your file. Or, you may request formal mediation, in which case a Friend of the Court employee, otherwise uninvolved with your case, is assigned to assist you. With formal mediation all discussion is confidential, and both parties must consent to this process.
The mediator cannot impose a decision on the parties. A decision can only be reached by agreement of the parties.
