Mandatory educational sessions, when
When parents split up and there are kids involved, a court can make both parents go to a class about how to handle custody and visits. The court can also make both parents try to work things out through a neutral third party (called alternative dispute resolution) instead of a full court fight — unless there is a good reason not to, like domestic violence. If parents are sent to that program, it costs money split between them, and nothing decided there is final or binding.
452.372. Mandatory , when — , when. — 1. When a person files a for or and the or of a child is involved, the court shall all parties to the to attend educational sessions section 452.605. Parties to a who previously have attended educational sessions pursuant to section 452.605 may also be required to attend such educational sessions.
2. In cases involving custody or visitation issues, the court may, except for or as provided in 3 of this section, order the parties to the action to participate in an alternative dispute resolution program pursuant to supreme court to resolve any issues in dispute or may set a on the matter. As used in this section, "" includes, but is not limited to, uncontested custody or temporary cases, or a finding of or as determined by a court with after all parties have received notice and an opportunity to be heard, but does not mean the absence of qualified mediators.
3. Any alternative dispute resolution program ordered by the court pursuant to this section may be paid for by the parties in a proportion to be determined by the court, the cost of which shall be reasonable and customary for the in which the program is ordered, and shall:
(1) Not be on the parties;
(2) Not be ordered or used for ;
(3) Not be ordered or utilized for child support issues; and
(4) Not be used to a prior order of the court, except by agreement of the parties.
4. Within one hundred twenty days after August 28, 1998, the Missouri supreme court shall have a rule in effect allowing, but not requiring, each circuit to establish an alternative dispute resolution program for s involving issues of custody and temporary physical custody relating to the child.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1998 S.B. 910)
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