Family Mediation Center

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a process where a neutral person assists the parties in reaching a resolution on their non-financial child custody disputes that is in the best interest of the child(ren). The mediator will direct the confidential process and provide optional solutions, while the parties remain in control of the outcome.  Mediation is not counseling or an attempt to reconcile.

Generally, FMC mediates the following five areas in your mediation:

Legal Custody

Your right as parents. How important decisions, such as health, education, welfare and religious upbringing, be made for the child(ren)?

Timeshare  

When the child(ren) will spend time with each party. This is the regular schedule and the most important issue the court wants resolved.

Holidays and Special Times  

How the child(ren) spend holidays, celebrations and special days with the parties?

Vacation Time

How many annual vacation days will each party have with the child(ren)? How much written notice will each party need to provide before taking vacation with the child(ren)?

Transportation  

How the child(ren) get from one party’s home to the other party’s home.

Benefits of Mediation

Mediation allows parties, and not the Court, to make decisions about their child(ren). Mediation also offers parties the opportunity to resolve their child custody issues in a non-adversarial way that takes much less time and money than a trial.

Mediation is confidential, conducted via alternate means, and requires you have privacy at all times during your appointment.  Driving and recording are prohibited. 

Role of the Mediator

The Family Mediation Specialist is a neutral person who will not take sides, make decisions for the parties, control the outcome of the case, give legal advice or predict what a Judge may do.

Mediation Costs

Unless waived by the Court, the mediation fee assessed is on a sliding scale based on each party’s individual income. If a party is receiving public assistance, their fee may be waived upon review of written verification.

To Request Mediation

The court may order parties to mediation in cases where child custody is in dispute.  To ask your Judge to refer you to mediation, you can use the following form if you have a case filed at Family Court:  

Request and Order for Mediation (pdf fillable)

When ordered by the Judge to participate in mandatory mediation, only the Judge assigned to your case can waive your participation in mediation.  To ask the judge to waive mediation in your case, you can use the following form.   

Request and Order to Waive Mediation (pdf fillable)

The Family Mediation Center is located at Family Court and open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.  You can reach the Family Mediation Center by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling (702) 455-4186.  You can also visit the Family Mediation Center website to learn more.