Wisconsin § 767.405 - Family court services.

§ 767.405. Family court services.

767.405(1) (1) Definitions. In this section: 767.405(1)(a) (a) “Mediation” means a cooperative process involving the parties and a mediator, the purpose of which is to help the parties, by applying communication and dispute resolution skills, define and resolve their own disagreements, with the best interest of the child as the paramount consideration. 767.405(1)(b) (b) “Mediator” means a person with special skills and training in dispute resolution. 767.405(1m) (1m) Director. 767.405(1m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subject to approval by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district, the circuit judge or judges in each county shall designate a person meeting the qualifications under sub. (4) as the director of family court services in that county. 767.405(1m)(b) (b) If 2 or more contiguous counties enter into a cooperative agreement under sub. (3) (b) , the circuit judges for the counties involved shall, subject to approval by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district, designate a person meeting the qualifications under sub. (4) as the director of family court services for those counties. 767.405(1m)(c) (c) A county or counties may designate the supervisor of the office of family court commissioner as the director under par. (a) or (b) . 767.405(2) (2) Duties. A director of family court services designated under sub. (1m) shall administer a family court services office if such an office is established under sub. (3) (a) or (b) . Regardless of whether the office is established, the director shall: 767.405(2)(a) (a) Employ staff to perform mediation and to perform any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14) , arrange and monitor staff training, and assign and monitor staff case load. 767.405(2)(b) (b) Contract under sub. (3) (c) with a person or public or private entity to perform mediation and to perform any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14) . 767.405(2)(c) (c) Supervise and perform mediation and any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14) , and evaluate the quality of the mediation or study services. 767.405(2)(d) (d) Administer and manage funding for family court services. 767.405(3) (3) Mediation provided. Mediation shall be provided in every county in this state by any of the following means: 767.405(3)(a) (a) A county may establish a family court services office to provide mediation in that county. 767.405(3)(b) (b) Two or more contiguous counties may enter into a cooperative agreement to establish one family court services office to provide mediation in those counties. 767.405(3)(c) (c) A director of family court services designated under sub. (1m) may contract with any person or public or private entity, located in a county in which the director administers family court services or in a contiguous county, to provide mediation in the county in which the person or entity is located. 767.405(4) (4) Mediator qualifications. Every mediator assigned under sub. (6) (a) shall have not less than 25 hours of mediation training or not less than 3 years of professional experience in dispute resolution. Every mediator assigned under sub. (6) (a) shall have training on the dynamics of domestic violence and the effects of domestic violence on victims of domestic violence and on children. 767.405(5) (5) Mediation referrals. 767.405(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (8) (b) , in any action affecting the family, including a revision of judgment or order under s.