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556 N. McDonough Street
Decatur, Georgia 30030
After your case is filed with the DeKalb County Courts you can request a referral to the Dispute Resolution Center through your attorney or through the assigned judge for your case.
It is very important to alert Center staff personally or through your legal representative of any concerns around issues of safety and comfort level. A confidential intake conference will determine whether a case would be better served in a courtroom or whether mediation would be appropriate with accommodations.
Superior Court Judges in DeKalb County believe in the benefits of alternative dispute resolution. The Court’s policy is therefore to cover the cost of a mediator, arbitrator, or case evaluator for a portion of the time to encourage use of this service.
Yes, the DRC only provides services for cases that have been ordered to mediation by the Court. You may request an Order to Alternative Dispute Resolution Program through your attorney or through the presiding Judge for your case.
If parties desire additional time they must pay the neutral directly for that time. That cost will be split between the parties unless otherwise agreed beforehand.
Parties who feel they need assistance may apply for a fee reduction or waiver. If independent legal counsel attend the sessions, their fees are to be paid separately by the parties.
Mediation sessions can be set within a few weeks from the date the Center receives the Court referral or the request from the parties. Parties participate in selecting mutually agreeable dates, usually within sixty days.
Depending upon the complexity of the issues and the willingness of both parties to resolve their dispute, mediation sessions may last less than two hours, require a day, or take place over multiple sessions. In most cases, however, the informal process of mediation is much shorter than full discovery and a trial.
Parties may opt to use a private practice mediator. The Center maintains a directory of mediators in private practice as a resource to the parties. Parties are not limited to those mediators listed but are required to use a mediator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution (www.godr.org). If private mediation is selected, parties are responsible for all costs.
Mediation can lower the intensity or level of conflict, enabling parties to better communicate and explore options that would resolve their dispute. Mediation can set the stage for further cooperative problem-solving if other issues emerge in an ongoing relationship. You may learn skills that help you discuss issues in a more useful way, both now and later.
You have total control over what decisions are made because mediation empowers parties to reach their own decisions, versus having outcomes determined by others.
Mediation provides a safe, open, and confidential environment. It is also less time-consuming, less expensive, and suitable for many types of disputes.
Mediation sessions can be set within a few weeks from the date the Center receives the Court referral or the request from the parties. Parties participate in selecting mutually agreeable dates, usually within sixty days.
Depending upon the complexity of the issues and the willingness of both parties to resolve their dispute, mediation sessions may last less than two hours, require a day, or take place over multiple sessions. In most cases, however, the informal process of mediation is much shorter than full discovery and a trial.
Mediation is designed to focus on the future you would like, not the past that you cannot change. Even when there has been a lot of hurt and anger, mediation gives you an opportunity to find solutions that help you.
The court must approve any change in parenting schedules. That means that parents can choose to make any agreement they reach binding by submitting it to the court for approval. You may be eligible for help with the paperwork through the DeKalb County Superior Court’s Family Law Information Center
You may call us at (404) 370-8194 or email us at drc@dekalbcountyga.gov. This is our general email address and is checked daily.
One (1) hour of arbitration, mediation, or case evaluation is provided at no charge to parties in domestic cases.
Contempt cases do not receive any additional free mediation time, even when mediation is ordered.
However, in modification cases, each party may receive one additional free hour of mediation if the Judge orders mediation under the modification filing.
If parties desire additional time they must pay the mediator directly for that time. That cost will be split between the parties unless otherwise agreed beforehand. The hourly rate will be stated by the mediator at the beginning of mediation and parties are to cover that payment at the time of mediation. Parties who feel they need assistance may apply for a fee reduction or waiver.
No, intake forms are provided by contacting the DRC with a copy of the order to mediate.
Agency-specific information:
A criminal case in the DeKalb Superior Court (DeKalb Judicial Circuit) is not assigned to a specific Judge until the District Attorney makes a decision to bring charges in the case.
Charges in a criminal case in Superior Court proceed by way of an indictment returned by the Grand Jury or by way of an accusation drawn by the District Attorney. When the indictment or accusation is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court, the case is then assigned to one of ten Superior Court Judges.
Prior to a case being filed, the case is “unindicted” and identified with a “D” number. It is not assigned to a specific Superior Court Judge.
All questions regarding “D” number cases should therefore be directed to the District Attorney’s office.
