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Legal Information: Tennessee

Custody

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Laws current as of November 27, 2023

If I am a domestic violence victim, would I be required to participate in mediation?

Most custody or visitation cases are referred to mediation to try to come to an agreement with the help of a mediator instead of going to trial. However, if you have a valid order of protection in effect or there was a court determination (“findings”) of domestic abuse, the judge can only send you to mediation if you agree to it and if the mediator is specifically trained in domestic violence. You would also have the right to have a support person with you, such as an attorney or advocate.1

1 TN ST §§ 36-6-107(a); 36-6-305

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