Washington County Court at Law Pre-Motion Conference Requirements

Before trial, each attorney or self-represented party must confer with the other attorneys or self-represented parties about settlement, stipulations, trial logistics, and the listed contested issues.

a. To expedite disposition, each attorney (or pro se party) shall confer, prior to trial, with each other attorney (or pro se party) regarding settlement, stipulations, estimated time of trial, waiver of jury, the extent, description, character and value of the property in question, amount of support, amount of monthly income, conservatorship, periods of possession and/or access, rights, duties and powers of the conservators, and any other contested issues.

Civil cases

If the parties cannot agree, they must participate in mediation before requesting a hearing, and the coordinator will not set a hearing without an attempt to mediate.

If th parti ar unable to reach an agreement both partie are RDJ..J. . to participate in ·mediati n. ' Thi , A..J.1./ m diation mu t b ndu t d befor r que ting a hearing. (Th coordinator will n t t a h aring if th re ha b n n att mpt to mediat .

Civil cases

If the parties cannot agree on temporary orders, both must participate in mediation before requesting a hearing; they may agree on a mediator or the Court may appoint one.

7. MEDIATION ON TEMPORARY ORDERS. The parties are encouraged to settle their disputes amicably without the necessity of court intervention. The Court recognizes the personal and emotional nature of family cases, and that family law matters sometimes require that certain temporary decisions be made while the case is pending. These decisions may be made by agreement of the parties or by the judge after a formal hearing. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement both parties are ORDERED to participate in "mediation." This mediation must be conducted before requesting a hearing. (The coordinator will not set a hearing if there has been no attempt to mediate.) The parties may agree on a person to serve as the mediator in their case. If the parties cannot agree on a mediator, the Court may appoint a mediator.