Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

2As per the standing order, parties in any contested domestic matter (includes divorce, custody, visitation, modifications, child support, contempt, legitimation, and paternity) shall contact the ADR office to initiate scheduling mediation 31 days after defendant has been served or upon defendant filling an answer, whichever occurs first, before being able to request a hearing date through the Superior Court Clerk’s office.

Any other contested civil matter may be specifically ordered to mediation by the Judges in the Superior, State, Probate, and Magistrate Courts, whereby parties are ordered to contact the ADR office to initiate scheduling the mediation.

Mediation must take place within 45 days of the day an Answer is due and must be completed within 55 days or before the case is scheduled on a Court Calendar.

If the parties can not agree on a GODR registered neutral from the Clayton County mediator roster and the agreed upon mediator’s hourly fee rate, within 10 calendar days of initiating the scheduling of a mediation, one will be assigned by the ADR staff from the Clayton County approved mediator roster at the assigned fee rate. The assigned fee rate is a minimum of $240.00 paid to the mediator at the beginning of the mediation ($120.00 from each party, or divided equally among the parties if it is a probate mediation)  for the first two hours or less, and $120.00/hr thereafter divided equally between parties.

Parties may request a fee waiver application from the ADR staff, if indigent, to determine if their portion of the mediation fee can be waived. Application for waiver of mediation fees must be made no less than 48 business hours prior to the scheduled date/time of the mediation.

(With regard to Magistrate cases that are mediated, there is no charge for Magistrate mediations).

Further Information

To schedule a mediation or to receive more information, call the ADR Office at 770-477-4575 or send fax to 770-603-4179.

The ADR office is located at:

Harold Banke Justice Center
9151 Tara Blvd, Suite 2DR01
Jonesboro, Georgia 30236