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Mediation Services
Mediation is available in Grant County to help parents of minor children resolve custody and physical placement disagreements. A minor child is a child who is less than 18 years of age.
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To receive mediation services through the FCC/DFCS, at least one parent or legal guardian must complete, sign, and file a Mediation Request Form [FA-4134V] with the office of the FCC/DFCS or the office of the Clerk of Court. A completed Mediation Request Form may be sent to the above email or delivered in person at the office of the FCC/DFCS if there is:
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A pending family law case in Grant County;
A past family court judgment or order from Grant County; or
A past family court judgment or order from another county in this or another state that has been certified to Grant County.
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When completing a Mediation Request Form, please include:
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Each parent's telephone number
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Each parent's email address
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The name(s) and birth date(s) of the minor child(ren)
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Once mediation is ordered and referred to a mediator, both parents or a legal guardian must attend the first mediation session unless the court first determines that attending the mediation session will cause undue hardship or would endanger the health or safety of one of the parties [§767.405(8)(b)]. After the first mediation session, continuing with mediation is voluntary.
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Parents participating in mediation must provide a parenting plan [form FA-4147V] to the director of family court services (DFCS) at least 10 days before mediation [§767.405(8)(d)]. Parents may exchange parenting plans before the first mediation session.
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Communication between parents and the mediator is confidential unless the parties agree that the mediator may also conduct a legal custody or physical placement study [§767.405 (5)(a)1].
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Once a written request for mediation [form FA-4134V] is filed with the court, the office of the DFCS will contact you to schedule the first mediation session. Mediation attendance on the date scheduled is mandatory.
RESCHEDULING MEDIATION SHALL BE DONE ONLY IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES. TO RESCHEDULE MEDIATION, OR SCHEDULE ADDITIONAL MEDIATION SESSIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE MEDIATOR DIRECTLY.
Mediators are trained to help parents resolve disagreements regarding legal custody and physical placement [§767.405]. In Grant County, mediators are independent contractors and are not employees of the office of the FCC/DFCCS. If the disagreement is directly related to legal custody or physical placement and parents agree in writing, parents may mediate disagreements regarding division of marital property, maintenance, and child support [§767.405 (9)].
The mediators providing services for Grant County are:
Important Note
Grant County pays $60 toward the first mediation session. If parents participate in additional mediation sessions, one or both parents may be required to pay mediation costs based upon the state Uniform Fee Schedule which final determination will be made by the Judge assigned to your case.
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If parents or a legal guardian are unable to reach an agreement regarding legal custody and/or physical placement of their minor child(ren), a party may request that the Judge appoint a Guardian ad Litem [FA-4136V and FA-5007V]. A Guardian ad Litem is an attorney appointed to advocate for the best interests of the minor child(ren) [§767.407].