Mediation and Parent Education

Court Mandated Mediation & Parent Education

Parties are required to complete Mediation Orientation & Parent Education before scheduling their required Mediation session. Mediation Orientation & Parent Education is an information session to help prepare you for mediation. It is designed to help parents understand the many issues children face when their family structure changes as well as provide information to parents about developing skills for successful co-parenting as separated parents.

Parent Education is the Family Law Education Program of Washington County and is presented in conjunction with Mediation Orientation. If you only need Parent Education, you will be able to indicate that on your Intake Form.

Instructions and scheduling

Step 1: Complete and submit required form

Below is the Intake Form. If you would like to get your fee waived, please submit a copy of your approved court fee waiver/deferral, which is called Order Re: Deferral Or Waiver of Fees, with your Intake Form. It will only be accepted if it was issued during current filing, no exceptions.

You may call court records for copies at 503-846-8888 ext. 70641(Link opens phone app).

Online Intake Form (English)

Online Intake Form (Spanish)

Step 2: Make payment

Once your form has been submitted, a confirmation email will be sent with payment instructions. Payments are made online via secure payment portal. You will need to have your case number and valid email address available when submitting payment. The fee for the package is $200 per person unless your court fees were waived/deferred.

Step 3: Schedule your virtual session

Once you have made your payment, an automatic confirmation of payment will be emailed to you, and this will include the scheduling link. If you applied for a waiver and it was approved, Conciliation Services will send you a link to schedule within a couple of business days. Sessions are available for Monday at 8:15 a.m. or Thursday at 1:15 p.m. The virtual session is 3 1/2 hours in duration. What is offered online are the only dates available. No children or other parties are allowed present, and you must be in a confidential area. This session will be virtual and require camera on during entire session. Information of virtual session will be emailed to you in the confirmation.

Step 4: Participate

Mediation Orientation & Parent Education will be conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams. Connection information will be emailed one business day prior to the appointment, in a separate email from Conciliation Services.

Day of the session:

No children or other parties allowed present during the session.
Please be in a confidential room for the entire session.
It is required you maintain your camera for completion credit.
Be sure you have given yourself enough time to connect. If you are late you will need to reschedule for another session.

Upon completing, you will receive a certificate of completion. If you requested mediation, then scheduling instructions will be sent to you.

Note:  To fulfill the Court Ordered Mediation requirement, parties are required to complete one (1) Mediation session in addition to Mediation Orientation.

Voluntary Mediation

If you DO NOT have an active open domestic relations case, you may utilize mediation services on a voluntary basis. We only offer mediation for negotiations of parenting time/custody. We do not require you have a Court Order.

Instructions and scheduling

Requirements

Must have child(ren) under the age of 18.
At least one parent must be a resident of Washington County, or have an open Domestic Relations proceeding with Washington County Court.

Additional information

Privacy: Mediation is confidential.
Cost: Voluntary Mediation services cost $125/session per person. Payment is due after appointment has been confirmed.
Mediation appointments are 2 hours in duration and can be either telephonic or virtual. You are required to be in a confidential room during session. No children or other parties allowed present during the session.

Scheduling

Complete and submit Intake Form - Below is the form required from both parties, prior to scheduling. Please complete the form. Once we have processed your form, we will email you scheduling instructions.

Online Intake Form (English)

Online Intake Form (Spanish)