Title 14 — Domestic Relations and Persons

The purpose of this chapter is, through mediation, to enable the parties in contested child custody, support, or visitation proceedings to resolve the dispute voluntarily.

In any proceeding involving an order, modification of an order, or enforcement of an order for the custody, support, or visitation of a child in which the custody or visitation issue is contested, the court may order mediation at the parties' own expense. The court may not order …

For any mediation ordered under this chapter, the court shall appoint a mediator from a list of qualified mediators approved by the court.

The supreme court shall adopt rules establishing the minimum qualifications of a mediator. To be included on a list of qualified mediators approved by the court, a person must possess the minimum qualifications.

The mediator shall conduct the mediation proceedings in private. The mediator may not exclude counsel from participation in the mediation proceedings.

Any communication, verbal or written, in a mediation proceeding under this chapter is confidential and inadmissible as evidence in any proceeding. A mediator appointed under this chapter may not be a witness and the notes and work product of the mediator are not subject to discov…

The mediator shall prepare a written summary of any agreement of the parties. The mediator shall inform the parties the summary may not be shown to the court unless signed by the parties. The mediator shall advise the court whether an agreement was reached.

The mediator may report to the court at any time that the parties are unable to reach an agreement. The mediator may recommend to the court that a full hearing on the custody, support, or visitation issue be held within thirty days. The mediator may not make a substantive recomme…