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The
Dispute Resolution Center (DRC) provides free family and
divorce mediation to families of low to moderate income in
Harris County. To
facilitate communication between the parties, the DRC
Family Mediation Program uses conference style mediation
and keeps the parties together during the mediation as
much as possible. The DRC typically does not accept family cases in which the
combined annual income of the parties exceeds $70,000 or
in which there are extensive property or financial
holdings, property issues.
There must be no allegations of child abuse,
current substance abuse, or significant family violence.
To
schedule a family mediation, please mail or fax the
following information in a letter requesting services to
the DRC Family Mediation Program:
•
A copy of the signed court order to mediation, if
any
• Court
case number and complete style of the case, including the
court. If the
adult parties to the case are not named in the style,
please provide their names and relationships to the case
• Trial
setting or mediation deadline, if any
• Names,
addresses and telephone numbers for all attorneys and (pro
se) parties, and their relationships to the case
• Whether
the attorneys will attend mediation or will be available
by phone during the mediation.
(We strongly encourage attorneys to attend
mediation, and some court orders require attorney
attendance). Attorneys
who do not attend are required to be available by phone
during the mediation
• Two
dates and times, at least 20 days from the date of your
request, that you have coordinated with the parties and
the other attorneys on the case.
The DRC mediates family cases Monday through
Thursday at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 5:30 PM and Friday at
9:00 AM. If
you need alternative arrangements, please contact us as
soon as possible
• Confirmation
that all parties will call us for their intake interviews
as soon as possible After we have received the above information, each party must call the DRC at (713) 755-8274 to complete a telephone interview before mediation can be scheduled. Once scheduled for mediation, the parties are required to attend at the specified date and time. If for any reason the mediation will not take place as scheduled, the attorneys and parties must notify the DRC as soon as possible and coordinate a new mediation date. Mediations will not be rescheduled except in the case of an emergency. If a rescheduled date would be for a date beyond the mediation deadline or trial date, it is the responsibility of the attorneys and parties to make arrangements with the court. The DRC will report to the court the results of mediation or the failure of a party or an attorney to follow the above procedures. DRC
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