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Mediation in a private counseling office with a child custody recommending counselor when separating or divorcing parents cannot agree on a child custody parenting plan, a session of approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours; after a referral from court, a call or visit to Family Court Services (1st floor) to schedule an appointment and complete the intake packet - after a referral from a request for order, once the proof of service is filed with the court and the other party has been served in a timely manner; the Parent Orientation Video watched in its entirety before the mediation appointment, confirmed to Family Court Services by email or telephone with the case number and name; both parties' attendance confirmed with Family Court Services by Tuesday the week prior to the appointment, or the appointment is cancelled; where domestic violence is an issue, separate sessions and/or a support person on request - a significant other is not permitted to serve as a support person; arrival 15 minutes early; mandatory mediation before the court hearing in any dissolution matter with a child custody and visitation dispute (Family Code Section 3170) - an agreement reported to the court through the attorneys, which may cancel the hearing, or, without agreement, a recommendation by the child custody recommending counselor and the hearing proceeds.
California > Third Appellate District > Tehama County > Superior Court of California, County of Tehama
Family Court Services (FCS) provides mediation in family law cases when separating or divorcing parents cannot agree on a child custody parenting plan. Mediation is provided in a private counseling office with a child custody recommending counselor. The mediation conference allows both parents to work together toward a mutually acceptable agreement which is in the best interest of the children. The mediation session will last approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. For additional information, view the Mediation Orientation Presentation and the Parent Handbook. In preparation for mediation First Steps After Being Referred to Mediation: If you are referred from court: Contact Family Court Services (located on 1st floor or call (530) 528- 7608) and schedule an appointment and complete your intake packet. If you are referred from a request for order: Ensure the proof of services is filed with the court, then contact Family Court Services (located on 1st floor or call (530) 528-7608) and schedule an appointment and complete your intake packet. Watch the Parent Orientation Video. Once you have watched the video please email (FamilyCourtServices@tehamacourt.ca.gov) or call Family court services (530) 528-7608 and inform them of both your case number and your name confirming you have watched the video in its entirety. Mediation Orientation Presentation Parent Handbook Parenting Plan Form Please note that it is imperative for both parties to attend in order for mediation to occur. Therefore, if both parties have not confirmed their attendance with our office by Tuesday the week prior to their appointment, then the appointment will be cancelled. However, if domestic violence is an issue in your case you may request separate sessions and/or bring a support person with you. A significant other will not be permitted to serve as a support person. Mandatory Mediation In any dissolution matter regarding child custody and visitation where there is a dispute, Family Code Section 3170 mandates that the case will be set for mediation prior to the court hearing. If agreement is reached, it is reported to the court (through the attorneys) and thus the court hearing may be cancelled since the family made its own decision. If no agreement is reached, a recommendation will be made by the child custody recommending counselor and the court hearing will proceed. FOR IMMEDIATE REFERRAL TO MEDIATION: Fill out your Request for Order form. After filing your Request for Order packet at the clerk's office at the courthouse and after the other party has been served in a timely manner, go immediately to Family Court Services, or call 530-528-7608 to schedule an appointment. Prior to your mediation appointment, you will need to fill out an intake packet, which can be found on this site. Please arrive 15 minutes early Prior to your mediation appointment, you must watch the Parent Orientation Video. Once you have watched the video please email (FamilyCourtServices@tehamacourt.ca.gov) or call Family Court Services (530) 528-7608 and inform them of both your case number and your name confirming you have watched the video in its entirety. Please note that it is imperative for both parties to attend in order for mediation to occur. Therefore, if both parties have not confirmed their attendance with our office by Tuesday the week prior to their appointment, then the appointment will be cancelled. However, if domestic violence is an issue in your case you may request separate sessions and/or bring a support person with you. A significant other will not be permitted to serve as a support person. Related Links Empower Tehama North Valley Catholic Social Services Children First Kids' Turn Family Law Facilitator Tehama County Self-Help Activity Book for Children Who are Going to Court California Courts Online Self-Help Center The Purpose of Family Court Service Consistent with the spirit of California law, the purpose of Family Court Services is to: Assist families in the settlement of domestic controversies involving the welfare of children where there is an action in Family Court. Try to ensure children get frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the dissolution of marriage or end of a relationship. Encourage parents to cooperate and share the rights and responsibilities of parenting during and following a dissolution. Legal Terms Relating to Child Custody Timeshare The designated time in which the non-custodial parent shall have responsibility of the children, or the specific time allotted to each parent. Legal Custody The rights and responsibilities of parents to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of their children. Joint Legal Custody Both parents share in the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of a child. Sole Legal Custody One parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the health, education and welfare of a child. Physical Custody How much time the children spend with each parent; where the children live; how day-to-day responsibilities are fulfilled. Joint Physical Custody Children spend a significant amount of time with each parent. Sole Physical Custody Children reside primarily with one parent and spend far less time with the other parent.
Family Court Services (FCS) provides mediation in family law cases when separating or divorcing parents cannot agree on a child custody parenting plan. Mediation is provided in a private counseling office with a child custody recommending counselor. The mediation conference allows both parents to work together toward a mutually acceptable agreement which is in the best interest of the children. Th
Reviewer note: Composed 2026-10-12 (California T4 Tehama build 2026-10-12) from BenchPath custody ca/t4/ca-tehama/pages/divisions__family-court-services.html (the page as fetched 2026-10-12; 618651 bytes, sha256 c312e194cc6479a045af3156d62550cba39f227b8228b4d2cbc0c31c858aec57) with the Orange HTML composer (compose-site.py, the Judicial Council theme's area): the article's content sections (section.jcc-section), news bodies (div.jcc-news-full) and title banners (div.jcc-hero; the first banner's heading, the page title, is chrome) - the site header, menus, breadcrumb and footer lie outside them; each block starts a line and each table cell is set on its own line; chrome removed: 1 item (the page title); proof (the multiset of non-space characters equals the containers' text less chrome and scripts) passes. Review note: The page requires both parties to watch the Parent Orientation Video before the mediation appointment and gives a session of “approximately 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours”, while Rule 14(B), carded in Section 3, requires the “Parent Orientation class” and the Parent Handbook it links (held) sets a Parent Orientation “on specified Mondays at 3:30 in Family Court Services”, a session “lasting 1 - 2 hours” and names “Michelle Proctor, Family Law Facilitator”, where the Self-Help page (held) names “Jameson Sheehan, Facilitator” (a review task).
1 verbatim mandatory provision from 13-16-s.
2 verbatim mandatory provisions from 15-41-s.
43 verbatim mandatory provisions from 07-33-s.