Frequently Asked Questions

Mediation is a confidential settlement process that helps families resolve conflicts related to divorce, parenting time, custody, child support and other family matters outside of court. Mediation allows parties to create their own settlements based upon what is best for them and their own family.

The mediator acts as a neutral person to assist the parties in coming to a resolution on the issues they need to resolve to move forward. The mediator cannot offer legal advice to either party. An attorney is a legal advocate for their client and provides legal advice.

No. Mediation can be done with or without attorneys representing either person. One party may choose to have an attorney while the other doesn’t.

No. Mediation is a voluntary, confidential process. The mediator does not report directly to the judge.

A parenting consultant (PC) is a neutral person appointed by a court to provide guidance and support to parents navigating challenges related to co-parenting, custody arrangements, and family dynamics. The PC is granted decision-making authority over disputes related to parenting time or child-related issues.

A PC can only be appointed if both parties agree to the PC involvement.

TPC services are often used in high-conflict situations to help parents resolve disputes, improve communication, and make decisions in the best interest of their children without the need for repeat, or ongoing, court involvement.

A PC can typically make decisions about parenting time, health care or school decisions, child-related expenses, therapeutic supports and conflict resolution options.

A PC is typically appointed for a set period of time, with two years being the standard period. However, parties can decide on what period of time is best for their situation.