Eidelman & Associates Preparing For The Child Custody Mediation Process | Page 4

Preparing for child custody mediation
A child custody mediator does not make immediate decisions.
Instead, this third party helps both parents come to a child custody
agreement that can later be approved in the courts. It is best to use
a child custody mediation professional if both parties are unable to
come to an immediate agreement in regards to the custody of their
children or child.
In most states, the child custody mediation process is considered
voluntary and is not required. Other states, however, do require
some kind of child custody mediation before the judge will approve
any court orders related to child custody. The mediation process is
straightforward, usually starting with either party meeting with the
mediator and discussing the custody-related issues at hand. The
mediator and both parties then discuss and review the issues at
hand, come to a solution, and eventually draft and sign an
agreement to be reviewed by the courts. Most parents are able to
work out an agreement with a mediator in a short amount of time,
though some cases require more time to work through issues with
a child custody mediation expert.