Mediation and ADR
Court-ordered mediation
Also called court-referred mediation or mandatory mediation
Mediation a judge sends a pending case to, on the court's own motion or at a party's request.[1][2]
In more detail
In Texas a court may refer a pending case to ADR, and a party can file a written objection within 10 days of the court's notice.[1] Florida courts must refer filed civil cases for damages to mediation when a party asks, with listed exceptions, and family courts with a mediation program refer contested parenting issues.[2] Federal district courts must have litigants in civil cases consider ADR.[3] Being ordered to mediate doesn't mean being ordered to settle.
Varies by state
Whether and when mediation is required depends on the state, the court and the type of case. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- Court-appointed mediatorA mediator the court chooses for a case, usually when the parties don't pick one themselves.
- Appearance at mediationThe attendance a court's rules require for a party to count as present at mediation.
- MediationA process in which a neutral mediator helps the parties communicate and negotiate so they can reach their own voluntary agreement.
- ImpasseThe point at which mediation ends without an agreement on some or all issues.
- Appellate mediationMediation that takes place while an appeal of a civil case is pending, after the trial court has ruled.
Read next on MediationList
Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Cite this page
MediationList. (2026, October 28). Court-ordered mediation: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/court-ordered-mediation/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.