Mediation In A Divorce, Custody or Child Support Case

April 7th, 2020 by Tiffany Hughes

If you are presently involved in a child support, custody or divorce case, you may be ordered to attend mediation with the other party. Mediation is a way for parties to resolve certain issues in their case without having to litigate the issues in court. In the area of family law, each judicial district is required to establish a program to provide mediation services for divorce, custody and child support cases. Mediation is a non-binding confidential process where a neutral third party selected by either the parties or the court assists the parties in reaching an agreement that is acceptable to each party. Common issues discussed in mediation include but are not limited to parenting time schedules, extracurricular activities for minor children, and daycare or school enrollment of minor children. Mediation services do not handle any financial issues.

How Long Is Mediation and How Much Does it Cost?

Mediation sessions are organized into 2 separate sessions that are typically two hours per session. Both parties attend both sessions with the mediator. If minor children are involved who are between the ages of 4 and 7, in the second session, the mediator will typically interview each minor child individually. The interview is confidential and children are never placed in a position of having to choose between their parents.

If you have been ordered to attend mediation by the court, the mediation services are free to both parties. If you choose your own private mediator you will have to pay the mediator directly for their services and typically parties spit the cost of mediation equally.

Agreements Reached in Mediation

Any agreement reached in mediation is entirely voluntary and the mediator cannot force the parties to come to an agreement.. If you are able to reach a full or partial agreement in mediation then the mediator will wrie out the terms of your partial or full agreement and provide you, the attorneys and the court with a copy of the agreement. When the court schedules you to attend mediation the court will also set a court date for the status on your mediation. If you are unable to reach an agreement in mediation, then you will have to litigate the issue in court. If you reached a partial or full agreement, the agreement will not be legally binding until it is presented and entered in court at your next status date.

Call Us Today

If you have been ordered to mediation and are concerned about the process, call The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes today. The family law attorneys at The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes are well versed in navigating mediation proceedings, can guide you through the process, and will submit a letter explaining all issues and your position on the issues and include all necessary documents, to the mediator on your behalf to ensure the best possible outcome in your case. For more information on how the family law attorneys at The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. can help you through the legal process of family law mediation in Chicago, contact us to schedule your complementary consultation today at 773-893-0228.

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This blog is made available by The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding of Illinois law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this website you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C.. The website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in Illinois.  The law changes constantly and we do not go back in time to edit old posts that may be affected by these changes.  If you have any questions about Illinois law, which is the only State this blog and website discusses, please call The Law Office of Tiffany M. Hughes, P.C. for a free consultation and do not draw any legal conclusions without speaking to a competent attorney in Illinois first.