Preparing for Child Custody Mediation in Placer County

In Placer County, the parties are still required to go to Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) and may wind up going to CCRC several times if agreements are not reached. In general the parties are referred to Tier I mediation which is non-recommending. If the parties are able to reach some agreements, the Child Custody Recommending Counselor (also referred to as a mediator) will write up the agreements but not make any recommendations. If a full agreement is not reached, the parties will attend their court hearing and the judge has the discretion to make child custody and visitation orders and/or refer the parties to Tier II and/or Tier III mediation.

What are the stages of Child Custody Mediation?

Tier II Mediation is for the purposes of fact gathering. In Tier II, the judge will direct the mediator to contact other third parties (collateral contacts) such as doctors, therapists, or family members. The purpose in speaking with collateral contacts is for the mediator to gather more information to provide to the court.

In Tier III Mediation, if the parties still cannot reach an agreement as to custody and visitation, the mediator will make a recommendation to the court as to what he or she feels the appropriate parenting plan should be for the child(ren).