In Sacramento child custody cases, the parties are automatically referred to child custody mediation to address their custody concerns and requests. Sacramento County Family Court Services is generally responsible for handling the parties’ custody mediation. In other circumstances, if the parties request it, mediation will be handled by a private mediator (private marriage and family therapist) at the parties’ cost.
In some cases, the parties’ dispute has become so hostile, that the parties cannot be in the same room together without matters emotionally and possibly even physically escalating. In other cases, one parent may be afraid or intimidated by the controlling/abusive tendencies of the other parent. In still other cases, here has been a history of domestic violence between the spouses and a court order forbids the parties to be together in the same room. In all of these cases, if a party so requests, the Sacramento county child custody mediator will conduct separate mediation sessions with the parties. The mediator wishes to help figure out what is in the children’s best interests and avoid the peripheral interpersonal disputes between the parents. An overly hostile mediation session is unproductive for everyone and not in the children’s best interest.
There are disadvantages to holding separate mediation sessions. Neither party will have an ideal opportunity to respond to the other party’s allegations in real time. The mediator will be getting stories from both sides at two different times.
Regardless, if you are involved in a Sacramento child custody case and you want to engage in separate mediation sessions with your Sacramento child custody mediator, please give us a call. We can help you understand the Sacramento child custody and mediation process in a free half-hour attorney consultation.