<\/a>The State of California mandates that all custody<\/a> court proceedings filed in the state must first attend court-ordered mediation prior to the date of the scheduled hearing. \u00a0The purpose of such court-ordered mediation is, in reality, intended to reduce the congestion of cases in court by making an effort to assist parents in working out custody and visitation issues with the assistance of a neutral third party.<\/p>\n The court mediators are generally trained professionals who have at least a Master\u2019s Degree and have extensive experience in psychology and marital\/family counseling, and are trained in conflict resolution.<\/p>\n In custody mediation, the mediator meets with the parties at the mediation department at the family law court either together and\/or individually. If there has been domestic violence<\/a> between the parties, the mediation is usually held in separate sessions with each parent for safety reasons and to avoid any appearance of intimidation.<\/p>\n