Thank You for Choosing Peace Over Conflict

Agreeing to mediation is one of the most loving decisions you can make for your children. We are here to guide your family toward solutions that protect today and the relationships of tomorrow.

• Neutrality and Scope: Mediation is not a substitute for legal advice, and CJI mediators do not give legal, financial, or clinical advice. The mediator focuses on helping participants reach their own agreements and does not represent either party.

• Licensed Methodology: CJI operates under an authorized license to utilize the registered trademarked framework, Think Like a Lawyer Fight Like a Lover®, to certify its mediators and provide structured parent education throughout the 12-week mediation process. Parent agrees to participate in good faith in both the mediation sessions and the required parent education components.

• Separate Weekly Zoom Sessions: To promote emotional and physical safety, reduce hostility, and encourage the candid, full disclosure necessary to resolve underlying conflicts and negotiate durable agreements moving forward, mediation sessions will be held once per week for each parent individually via Zoom video conference. The parties will not attend mediation sessions together.

• Child-Free Session Environment: Parent agrees to attend all Zoom mediation sessions from a private location and at a time when the minor child(ren) are not present and cannot overhear the proceedings. CJI does not provide childcare during mediation sessions.

• Commitment to Shield Children from Parental Conflict:Parent expressly agrees to protect the minor child(ren) from all conversations, disputes, or legal matters concerning the parental conflict. Specifically, Parent agrees:
  1. To avoid negative, critical, or adult-oriented conversations with the child(ren) about the other parent; and

2. Never to pressure, coach, or ask the child(ren) to choose a side or state a preference regarding which parent they want to live with.

• Acknowledgment of Harm to Children: Parent acknowledges that exposing children to parental conflict, disparaging the other parent, or pressuring children to take sides or state a custodial preference is deeply harmful to their developing identity, significantly increases their psychological stress, and conditions them to "perform" to please adults rather than feel safe being themselves.

• Child-Centered Support: Because CJI’s primary mission as a 501(c)(3) public charity is to protect children from the harms of parental conflict, Parent hereby grants express consent for CJI to offer, coordinate, and provide additional supportive resources, educational programming, and case management services directly to the minor child(ren) involved in this dispute.

• Best Interests Standard: These services are designed to support the emotional well-being and stability of the child(ren) independent of the parents' adversarial positions. Parent agrees to cooperate reasonably in facilitating the child(ren)’s access to these supportive resources as recommended by CJI.

• Notice and Reporting to the Court: While mediation discussions remain confidential to the extent permitted by law, Parent expressly acknowledges and agrees that CJI reserves the right to intervene, appear, or submit filings in any pending family court litigation involving the parties and the minor child(ren) for the specific purposes of:
   
  1. Submitting an independent report of case management recommendations concerning the welfare and best interests of the child(ren); or

2. Filing a formal announcement or notice informing the Court that the parties have successfully entered into a mediated agreement, if applicable.

• Drafting and Legal Review: If a full or partial agreement is reached during the 12-week process, CJI will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding/Mediated Agreement and review it with both parties. Following this review, each party will have ten (10) days to have the document reviewed and approved by independent legal counsel of their choosing. CJI cannot advise either party on the legal sufficiency of the mediated agreement.

• Court Filing: The Plaintiff/Petitioner is responsible for having the final agreement formally drawn and presented to the Court, unless the parties agree otherwise in writing.

• Unresolved Issues (Case Evaluation / Non-Binding Arbitration): In the event that any issues remain unresolved at the conclusion of the 12-week mediation process, the parties have the option to mutually agree to a case evaluation or non-binding arbitration to seek resolution before pursuing intervention through the family court system.

• Income Up to 250% FPL (No Cost): Families with verified household incomes up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level receive all mediation, parent education, and child case management services free of charge ($0).

• Income Above 250% FPL (Reduced Rate): Families earning more than 250% of the Federal Poverty Level receive a significantly reduced charitable rate of $100 per session, or $2,400 for the entire 12-week mediation program.

• Fee Split and Alternative Arrangements: For fee-paying participants, unless you and the other party have agreed otherwise, each party will pay one-half (1/2) of the applicable program fee. Any alternative payment arrangements, payment plans, or fee allocations must be pre-approved by CJI in writing.

• Cancellation and Non-Refundability (Fee-Paying Parents): For parents paying the reduced program rate, there is a non-refundable $500 administrative engagement fee in the event you cancel mediation services within seven (7) days of signing this Agreement (for per-session parents, only completed sessions and applicable administrative costs apply). After seven days, all paid program fees are strictly non-refundable and are deemed earned upon receipt to support CJI's 501(c)(3) charitable programming and reserved staff allocation.

• Reconciliation Option: If there is any possibility that you and the other party may reconcile your differences privately, CJI recommends that fee-paying parents pay only their initial 1/2 deposit (or per-session rate) up front. If you reconcile and cancel services within seven (7) days of signing this Agreement, CJI will retain the $500 administrative fee (if enrolled in the full program package) and refund the remainder of your deposit. If you continue with the full 12-week program, any remaining balance is due within thirty (30) days unless an alternative payment plan has been pre-approved in writing, and all fees paid to CJI are non-refundable, with no exceptions.

• Open Exchange of Information: Mediation is most effective when both parties openly and transparently exchange relevant information. Parent agrees to provide all relevant documents and information requested by CJI (including income verification documents for FPL fee determination, as well as financial and parenting records) and authorizes CJI to freely exchange relevant case information with the other party.

• Confidentiality Limitation: If you believe you are entitled to withhold information that is relevant to the financial or parenting issues in your dispute, mediation may not be appropriate, and you should not sign this Agreement.

• Scope of Disclosures: Examples of disclosures typically required to resolve family matters include, but are not limited to: tax returns, pay stubs, insurance policies, childcare receipts, and the children's academic, medical, and psychological records. In most instances, no more than three (3) years of financial documentation are required when addressing financial or support issues.

• Acknowledgment of Non-Representation: Because CJI is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charity providing mediation and parent education—and not a law firm—CJI does not provide legal representation to individuals. However, in the event either party has previously communicated with CJI staff, participated in CJI educational workshops, or received general information prior to signing this Agreement, each party expressly waives any perceived or actual conflict of interest arising from such prior contact.

• Binding Neutrality: By signing below, Parent acknowledges and agrees that this Agreement binds CJI, its mediators, case managers, agents, and employees to act strictly as a neutral, non-interested third party for the sole purpose of facilitating a fair, impartial, and child-protective resolution. CJI shall not provide legal advice to either party at any stage of the process.

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Questions? Email us at admin@lawforlove.com