23-3502. When ordered; appointment and qualifications of mediator. (a) The court or hearing officer may order mediation of any contested issue of child custody, residency, visitation, parenting time, division of property or other issues, at any time, upon motion of a party or on the court's own motion.

(b) If the court or hearing officer orders mediation under subsection (a), the court or hearing officer shall appoint a mediator, taking into consideration the following:

(1) An agreement by the parties to have a specific mediator appointed by the court or hearing officer;

(2) the nature and extent of any relationships the mediator may have with the parties and any personal, financial or other interests the mediator may have which could result in bias or a conflict of interest;

(3) the mediator's knowledge of (A) the Kansas judicial system and the procedure used in domestic relations cases, (B) other resources in the community to which parties can be referred for assistance, (C) child development, (D) clinical issues relating to children, (E) the effects of divorce on children and (F) the psychology of families; and

(4) the mediator's training and experience in the process and techniques of mediation.

History: L. 1985, ch. 147, § 2; L. 1986, ch. 138, § 3; L. 2000, ch. 171, § 6; July 1.