Lisa M. Shapson
On the official roster: Montgomery County (PA) Courts · verified 2026-10-07
Small claims & county court mediators in Philadelphia County, PA
2 small claims & county court mediators listed in Philadelphia County from official Pennsylvania rosters, each with its official source.
How does mediation work in Philadelphia County?
Philadelphia's courts form Pennsylvania's First Judicial District, one of the state's 60 judicial districts [1][2]. In Family Court, the Custody Mediation unit on the 7th floor at 1501 Arch Street (custodymed@courts.phila.gov) handles petitions to modify an existing custody order [3]. A 20–30 minute mediation orientation is mandatory for those petitions, except in some cases of recent abuse; if both parties choose to keep going, mediation follows at no additional fee [3]. The court also approves parenting coordinators for Philadelphia County [4]. Many mediators listed below are on the federal Eastern District bankruptcy court's mediation panel [5].
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania – Courts of Common Pleas
- UJS – Common Pleas President Judges (county, district number and courthouse)
- Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas – Family Court, Domestic Relations (Custody Mediation)
- First Judicial District – Approved Parenting Coordinators
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, E.D. Pa. – Authorized Mediation Panel (2/25/2025, PDF)
Fact-checked 2026-10-07. Court programs change; confirm with the clerk.
Open to meeting by video? Mediators who work online with Pennsylvania clients · Online mediators
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Only a few listed mediators have Philadelphia County as their home county. Many also work in neighboring counties or meet online.
Mediators who work online with Pennsylvania clients ↓ · All Pennsylvania mediators
Carolyn Moran Zack
On the official roster: Chester County (PA) Courts · verified 2026-10-07
Mediators who work online with Pennsylvania clients
No mediator from another state has told us they work online with Pennsylvania clients in this practice area yet. Local mediators may also offer video sessions; ask when you contact them.
Court-ordered case? Courts may require a mediator from their own approved list for court-ordered cases. Check your court’s rules, or see how mediation works in Pennsylvania.
Court-connected mediation in Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania counties with custody mediation programs set mediator qualifications by local rule within statewide Rule 1940.4 minimums. Philadelphia, for example, requires a graduate degree in law or a mental health field, approved training and insurance.
Private mediation in Pennsylvania: No state license for private mediators was found in the sources reviewed. No rule on online or out-of-state mediators was found.
Sources: 23 Pa.C.S. Chapter 39 (Mediation), Pennsylvania General Assembly · Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, President Judge General Court Regulation No. 27 of 2025 (Phila.DR.R. 1940.3, 1940.4) · Chester County Custody Mediation Rules · 42 Pa.C.S. Chapter 73 (§ 7361 compulsory arbitration), Pennsylvania General Assembly · Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 5.5 and comments), Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · partly verified
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