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Mediation and ADR

Impartial third party

Texas term

Texas's statutory name for the neutral a court appoints to run an ADR process, such as a mediator. To be appointed, a person generally needs at least 40 classroom hours of dispute resolution training.[1]

In more detail

For disputes about the parent-child relationship, Texas requires 24 more hours in family dynamics, child development and family law, including family violence training.[1] A court may appoint someone without that training based on other professional training or experience.[1] The impartial third party must encourage settlement but may not compel or coerce one.[1]

Varies by state

This is Texas law. Other states set their own qualifications, and some set none for private mediation. Find your state’s rules.

Related terms

  • NeutralAn impartial person with no stake in the outcome who helps the parties resolve a dispute.
  • Court-appointed mediatorA mediator the court chooses for a case, usually when the parties don't pick one themselves.
  • MediatorA neutral, impartial person who conducts a mediation and helps the parties reach their own agreement, without deciding the dispute.

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.

  1. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code ch. 154 (Alternative dispute resolution procedures)tcss.legis.texas.govchecked ↩

General information, not legal advice. MediationList is not a law firm. Spotted an error? Tell us.

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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Impartial third party: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/impartial-third-party/

APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.