If parties have attorneys, it is recommended such agreement is reviewed by attorneys before filing with the court. After review, the agreement is filed with the court for approval and therefore can be enforced as a Order of the Court. Mediation is confidential. The court knows no details of the process of mediation itself, it only knows the outcome - either as an agreement or not. Each case is different.
Some cases take longer to settle issues than others.
The average time for mediation is approximately six hours. Generally, costs for mediation are divided and each party is responsible for half of the total fees. This division of costs may vary depending on specific issues relating to the case and the specific court order. Family Court Services produces a list of Supreme Court Approved Child Custody Mediators . This list includes all mediators in the Fourth Judicial District who wish to be listed and have complied with the Supreme Court's expectations for mediators.