Mediation - Child Custody/visitation - Never Married/third Party/seperated But Not Divorced | Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court - Juvenile Division

Provides a process in which parties develop a parenting plan with the help of a mediator. The mediator is a neutral third party who encourages parents to discuss the issues concerning their children and to help them reach an agreement. Goal is to allow the parties control the outcome and to foster communication on the issue in a safe environment and to avoid court proceedings. After an agreement has been submitted and accepted, a judge will sign the documents and the agreement will be put into place. If no agreement can be reached through mediation, a court hearing will be scheduled.

Data provided by

211 Cleveland

Physical Address

9300 Quincy Ave., 3rd Flr. Juvenile Court, Cleveland, OH 44106

Hours

M-F: 8:30am-4:30pm.

Application process

Must first get initial packet from the Resource Center (also with this agency - phone for information). After forms are filled out and reviewed, the resource Center will direct the client to Mediation. Interested parties are encouraged to seek legal representation or seek help with information. A parent-child relationship must have been legally established. If this has not been done, will have to contact the Cuyahoga County JFS Child Support Office before mediation or filing for custody.

Fee

Free

Eligibility

Child involved must be residing in Cuyahoga County. Mediation is given when the custody order was not determined as part of divorce or legal separation case. Handles cases such as when parents were never married, third parties such as grandparents and legal custodians seeking custody or visitation, and parents that are married and no longer together but not legally separated. Mediation will not be provided if one of the parties has filed a protection order against the other (such as in a domestic violence situation). Generally, does not assist with custody/visitation cases that were determined by the Domestic Relations Court - in this situation, parents, relatives, and 3rd parties would need to go to the Domestic Relations Court for any modifications. However, this office will assist in cases where custody/visitation orders were settled by this agency before the divorce occurred.

Service area

United States

Agency info

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court - Juvenile Division

Operates as a specialized Court of Common Pleas. Assumes responsibility for the arraignment, adjudication, and disposition of cases of unruly, delinquent, neglected, dependent, or abused children. Handles juvenile traffic cases.