How to become a mediator in Illinois
Who certifies or lists mediators in Illinois?
No statewide certification body identified on the pages reviewed; mediators are selected by the parties or appointed by the court under each circuit's local rules (e.g., First Judicial Circuit).
This is general information, not legal advice. It covers Illinois only. Rules change, so check the official source before you enroll in a course.
What training and continuing education does Illinois require?
These are the court mediator credentials and rosters we could confirm from Illinois’s official sources. Where a detail isn’t confirmed, we say so instead of guessing.
| Credential or roster | Initial training | Continuing education |
|---|---|---|
| No statewide credential (circuit-court rosters under Ill. S. Ct. R. 99 / R. 905 plus local rules) Each judicial circuit (Ill. S. Ct. R. 905 requires each circuit to run a custody mediation program; Rule 99 for civil) | Set by circuit local rule | Set by circuit |
| Thirteenth Judicial Circuit court-approved family mediator (Circuit Rule 8.15; La Salle, Bureau and Grundy counties) Chief Judge, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (keeps the list of court-approved mediators) | 40 hours circuit-approved specialized family mediation course or certification | 10 hours circuit-approved continuing education, including 2 hours on domestic violence (every 2 years (evidence to the Chief/Presiding Judge)) |
Do I need a state credential to mediate in Illinois?
State credentials and court rosters mainly matter for court-ordered or court-connected cases, where a court may require a mediator from its own list. If you plan to mediate cases that people bring to you privately, check whether Illinois or your profession has any rule that applies. See do I need a mediator certified in my state?
Official sources
- Illinois Supreme Court Rules (Rules 99, 99.1, 99.2, 905)
- First Judicial Circuit Mediation (family and civil)
- Circuit Court of Cook County – Mediation Program for Domestic Relations Cases
- lasallecounty.com/images/Circuit_Court_Rules_2025_FINAL.pdf
Checked Oct 8, 2026. Found an error or a newer rule? Email hello@mediationlist.com.
See the 1,124 mediators on Illinois’s official rosters →
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