Court Opinions

State Laws

US Code

US Constitution

Texas Family Code - Section 6.602. Mediation Procedures

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Family Code > Texas Family Code - Section 6.602. Mediation Procedures

§ 6.602. MEDIATION PROCEDURES.  (a) On the written 
agreement of the parties or on the court's own motion, the court may 
refer a suit for dissolution of a marriage to mediation.
	(b)  A mediated settlement agreement is binding on the 
parties if the agreement:
		(1)  provides, in a prominently displayed statement 
that is in boldfaced type or capital letters or underlined, that the 
agreement is not subject to revocation;
		(2)  is signed by each party to the agreement;  and                           
		(3)  is signed by the party's attorney, if any, who is 
present at the time the agreement is signed.
	(c)  If a mediated settlement agreement meets the 
requirements of this section, a party is entitled to judgment on the 
mediated settlement agreement notwithstanding Rule 11, Texas Rules 
of Civil Procedure, or another rule of law.
	(d)  A party may at any time prior to the final mediation 
order file a written objection to the referral of a suit for 
dissolution of a marriage to mediation on the basis of family 
violence having been committed against the objecting party by the 
other party.  After an objection is filed, the suit may not be 
referred to mediation unless, on the request of the other party, a 
hearing is held and the court finds that a preponderance of the 
evidence does not support the objection.  If the suit is referred to 
mediation, the court shall order appropriate measures be taken to 
ensure the physical and emotional safety of the party who filed the 
objection.  The order shall provide that the parties not be required 
to have face-to-face contact and that the parties be placed in 
separate rooms during mediation.

Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 7, § 1, eff. April 17, 1997.  
Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 178, § 2, eff. Aug. 30, 
1999;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1351, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Last modified: August 11, 2007