(a) An attorney, known as an Attorney-Mediator, shall be hired to assist the court in resolving child and spousal support disputes, to develop community outreach programs, and to undertake other duties as assigned by the court.
(b) The Attorney-Mediator shall be an attorney, licensed to practice in this state, with mediation or litigation experience, or both, in the field of family law.
(c) By local rule, the superior court may designate the duties of the Attorney-Mediator, which may include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Meeting with litigants to mediate issues of child support, spousal support, and maintenance of health insurance. Actions in which one or both of the parties are unrepresented by counsel shall have priority.
(2) Preparing support schedules based on statutory guidelines accessed through existing up-to-date computer technology.
(3) Drafting stipulations to include all issues agreed to by the parties, which may include issues other than those specified in Section 20031.
(4) If the parties are unable to resolve issues with the assistance of the Attorney-Mediator, prior to or at the hearing, and at the request of the court, the Attorney-Mediator shall review the paperwork, examine documents, prepare support schedules, and advise the judge whether or not the matter is ready to proceed.
(5) Assisting the clerk in maintaining records.
(6) Preparing formal orders consistent with the court’s announced order in cases where both parties are unrepresented.
(7) Serving as a special master to hearing proceedings and making findings to the court unless the individual has served as a mediator in that case.
(8) Assisting the court with research and any other responsibilities that will enable the court to be responsive to the litigants’ needs.
(9) Developing programs for bar and community outreach through day and evening programs, video recordings, and other innovative means that will assist unrepresented and financially disadvantaged litigants in gaining meaningful access to family court. These programs shall specifically include information concerning underutilized legislation, such as expedited temporary support orders (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 3620) of Part 1 of Division 9), modification of support orders (Article 3 (commencing with Section 3680) of Chapter 6 of Part 1 of Division 9), and preexisting, court-sponsored programs, such as supervised visitation and appointment of attorneys for children.
(d) The court shall develop a protocol wherein all litigants, both unrepresented by counsel and represented by counsel, have ultimate access to a hearing before the court.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 115, Sec. 169. (AB 1817) Effective January 1, 2020.)