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Legal Information: Ohio

Custody

Updated: 
July 12, 2023

Will I have to go to mediation?

If the parents do not agree on rights and responsibilities of their child or on a parenting time schedule, the judge may order the parents to go to mediation. However, before ordering mediation, the judge must consider if mediation is in the best interests of the parties when one of the parents was convicted of, or pleaded guilty to, domestic violence within that household.1

If the judge does order mediation, the judge will consider the mediation report but is not bound by it. The judge will consider the best interests of the child when making a decision.2 For more information on best interests factors, you can see How will a judge make a decision about parental rights and responsibilities (custody)?

1 Ohio Rev. Code § 3109.052(A)
2 Ohio Rev. Code § 3109.052(B)

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