PARENT INFORMATION:
The Superior Court requires all parents involved in a Family Law proceeding
where there are minor children to attend and complete the mandatory
parent education program. The action before the court
may include, but may not be limited to, actions for legal separation,
dissolution of marriage (divorce), petitions to establish parental relationship,
temporary restraining orders or actions to establish or modify custody
or visitation. Please call 805-882-4626 for further information.
Who is required to attend? [ See Local
Court Rule 1507 ]
Parents are not required to attend the program together, and
in cases filed under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act it
is recommended that the parties not attend the same class.
What if I have a mediation appointment scheduled,
do I need to attend a parent education program first?
YES. Parents who participate in custody mediation at Family Mediation
Services need to complete this program PRIOR to the mediation. You
need only attend the program one time, so it is not required that
you attend the class before each mediation. If any parent has not
completed the required parent education program by the date set
for mediation, to the extent that is possible, the mediation date
shall be reset to a later time to permit the parent(s) to first
attend the program. The mediator may, at his or her discretion,
proceed with the mediation if it is in the best interest of the
children. In any case, the mediator will first require any parent
who has not attended the program, and who has not obtained a waiver
of the requirement to attend the class, to sign a written stipulation
(agreement), which will become a court order, requiring the parent
to attend the required program by no later
than a specified date.
Parents attending mediation shall not bring children from the
age of infancy to five (5) years of age, or the mediation may have to
be rescheduled. Children six (6) to twelve (12) years of age must have
an adult supervisor or the mediation will have to be rescheduled.
The court may accept verification of attendance at an equivalent parent
education program located in another county or state, if the attendance
at our local program is found to be a hardship to a parent living outside
the local area.
An order delaying or waiving the requirement of attendance at the parent
education program may be obtained from the court upon a showing of good
cause. [ See Local
Court Rule 1507 ]
Parent Education Programs
