Family Court Services

Driving directions

FAMILY MEDIATION SERVICES

Family Court Services (FCS) mediation provides an opportunity for parents to meet with a trained professional to develop a parenting plan that is in the best interest of their children.  The Family Law Code governs mediation and sets forth the purposes of mediation:  To reduce acrimony that may exist between parents, develop an agreement assuring the children close and continuing contact with both parents and to effect a settlement that is in the best interest of the children.  California’s mandatory mediation law affords the parents the opportunity to develop their own plans to raise their children after the decision to separate has been made, rather than to delegate that responsibility to others, such as mediators, psychologists, evaluators, or judges. The law also states that the mediator, parents, and the Court must consider what arrangements are in the “best interest” of the child.  It also provides that the child of separating parents has “the right to frequent and continuing contact with both parents.”

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 
IMPORTANT TERMS YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND

Legal Custody:  The rights and responsibilities of parents to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of their children.
Joint Legal Custody:  Both parents share in the right and responsibility to make decisions for their children.
Sole Legal Custody:  One parent has the right and responsibility for making decisions for children.

Physical Custody:  How much time the children spent with each parent; where the children live; how day-to-day responsibilities are fulfilled.
Joint Physical Custody:  Children spend a significant amount of time with each parent.   This does not meant the time must be equally shared by the parents. 
Sole Physical Custody:  Children reside primarily with one parent, and have visitation with the other parent.

IF THERE HAS BEEN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

What is abuse?  Abuse means to hit, kick, hurt, scare, throw things, pull hair, push, follow, harass, sexually assault, isolate, or threaten to do any of these things.  Domestic violence is abuse that may be spoken, written, or physical.

Security and safety issues are given serious priority at Family Court Services.  If you are protected by a restraining order due to past acts of domestic violence, or sign under penalty of perjury that you have a history of domestic violence (even if you have no restraining orders), you may request to meet separately with the mediator, and/or you can request to have a support person accompany you (Family Code sections 3181 and 6303).  If this applies to you, you must fill out the FCS domestic violence form and submit at the time of your mediation (link below).  If the Court finds that one parent has perpetrated domestic violence against the other parent, physical and legal custody, as well as time with your children may be affected (Family Code § 3044).

Click here to download FCS DV Procedures form  (Only fill out if under penalty of perjury you are stating that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence with the other party in the case; then submit upon registering at the FCS counter) 

IF THERE ARE CONCERNS REGARDING DRUGS/ALCOHOL 

Family Code Section 3011(d) requires consideration of parent’s “habitual or continual” use of illegal drugs in determining the best interest of the children.  Abuse of legal drugs shall also be taking into consideration when ensuing that the children’s best interest are secured.
Share any concerns regarding controlled or illicit substance use and/or abuse to the mediator at the time of your mediation.  

MANDATORY PRE-MEDIATION ORIENTATION CLASS INFORMATION

The Orientation class is mandatory for all parents who have child custody and visitation issues.  Family Court Services offers a mandatory live orientation class for parents involved in the Family Court process. The orientation includes important information about logistics and resources, helping children through their parents’ separation, and how to develop a parenting plan.  Videos used help illustrate the need for parents to keep their children out of adult conflicts. 

When you are ordered to attend the mandatory pre-mediation orientation class, you must attend before your scheduled mediation appointment.  No appointment is necessary to attend the class.

Location: Civil and Family Courthouse, 3055 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95403, Courtroom 20.

      Time:       Starts promptly at 2:00 p.m. and ends at approximately 5:00 p.m.   
                      Late arrivals will not be permitted entry into the class

 1st Friday:   Petitioners and Respondents may attend
 2nd Friday:  For Spanish-speakers only (Petitioners and Respondents may attend)
 3rd Friday:  Petitioner’s only may attend
 4th Friday:  Respondent’s only may attend

Please be aware that when both Petitioners and Respondents attend on the same day, this may create a problem for the parties.  Therefore, the facilitator reserves the right to request the one or both parties return at a later date, if necessary.

Mediation Orientation Program

Orientaion Handbook

Please read the following information before entering the mediation orientation program.
Clicking on the link below will show the Mediation Orientation Program. The presentation will automatically start in about 30 seconds depending on connection speed, please be patient and click only once. While viewing the slides, you can click on the arrows at the bottom of the screen to move forward a slide or back a slide. You must have Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or later to view the documents and print out the Handbook and Certificate of Completion. While viewing the Orientation video, use the video controls on the bottom of the window to pause or stop the video.

PERTINENT FCS FORMS

Click here to download FCS intake form (Fill out prior to attending mediation and submit upon registering at the FCS counter)
Click here to download FCS DV Procedures form  (Only fill out if under penalty of perjury you are stating that you are or have been a victim of domestic violence with the other party in the case; then submit upon registering at the FCS counter)