Indiana, like many other states, has developed rules which encourage residents having disputes to seek a means of settling those disputes outside the courts. The rules have been adopted in order to assure order in the way disputes are settled, that persons having sufficient credentials or a knowledge base to appropriately inform residents of options available for alternative dispute approaches, and to offer residents maximum reasonable flexibility. It is within these Indiana rules, which are referred to collectively as “The ADR”, that our mediation activities at Heartland Family Mediators are guided and governed.

The ADR rules involving mediation can be found in Rule 2 of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules under the heading of Mediation. Indiana differentiates between civil and domestic mediation. They do so primarily in the requirements to be met if a mediator wishes to be listed on the Registry of Approved Mediators of The Indiana Supreme Court. Generally, to be listed on the Registry as a civil mediator, mediators must meet a specific mediation skills educational component and they must be attorneys. For domestic mediators, in addition to attorneys, persons having met certain educational and experience requirements, even though they may have non-legal backgrounds, may be listed on the Registry after completing the mediation skills educational component. Both civil and domestic mediators, if they wish to remain listed on the Registry, are required to complete six hours of meditation focused continuing education every three years. All mediators of Heartland Family Mediators are required to be listed on the Registry and meet the continuing education requirement.

For more information on the Indiana ADR see: This Link – Click Here