Helping Parents Design and Plan for Access, Visitation & Custody of Their Children.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Qualifies for the Program? Anyone who is a resident of the State of Arkansas, or subject to the jurisdiction of the Arkansas Circuit Courts, AND is a parent or guardian of a minor child or children who has a dispute with the other parent on issues of child custody, visitation or support.
Does the marital status of the parents affect eligibility? No. The parties may be divorcing, divorced or never married.
What issues may be mediated through the program? Issues of child custody, visitation, and support may be mediated through the program. The program does not cover property division or spousal support.
Are only divorce cases eligible for the program? No. The status of the case does not matter. It may be a case in which:
the parties are getting a divorce
the parties are already divorced and want to change custody, visitation or support
were never married and paternity is being legally established
Office of Child Support Enforcement case
the parties are not in the court process at all
Must the case be ordered to mediation by the court? No. Cases may come into the program because the parties agree between themselves to go to mediation, because their attorneys suggest they go to mediation, or because the court has ordered the case to mediation.
Who mediates the case? Parties may select a mediator from a Roster of qualified mediators working in the Access and Visitation Program. All mediators are certified by the Arkansas Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission in the domestic relations category.
How do I get into the program? BOTH parties must complete the Arkansas Access and Visitation Mediation Program Questionnaire and submit it to the Director. The Director will review the case to make sure it meets all eligibility requirements and is appropriate for mediation. If so, the case will be assigned to the mediator and the mediator will contact the parties to schedule the mediation session. The Director can take no action on the case until both parties have submitted complete and accurate questionnaire forms.
Where do I get the intake forms? The Arkansas Access and Visitation Mediation Program Questionnaire is available for download on the Program Forms page, or you may contact the program Director at (501) 803-9675.
How long does it take? The length of the mediation depends on the parties and varies from case to case. The program covers up to 6 hours of mediation time. This includes the time it takes to get the case scheduled for mediation. Any time beyond 6 hours is solely the responsibility of the parties. Most cases are completed within the 6 hour time limit.
