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Cobb Mediation, LLC is now The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. More information We will be closed on November 27, 28, December 25, 26 for the holidays. We are proud to introduce Christopher Annunziata as the newest member of our Panel of Neutrals. Mr. Annunziata (A-nun-zi-ata) is an attorney who litigated commercial, employment, insurance coverage and corporate matters at a major international law firm prior to opening a full time mediation and arbitration practice. See our latest findings: Empirical Analysis of Mediation Comments are welcome. The Historic Anderson Mansion will be a featured destination on this year's Marietta Pilgrimmage Christmas Home Tour and will be the site of this year’s Marietta Olde Marietta Tearoom. Visit us Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 4 pm. We recently hosted a special event for Marietta's Strand Theater. Attendees were treated to a preview of the restored Strand Theater and an opportunity to buy season tickets before they went on sale to the general public. See photographs of Strand Event. The Center for Legal Solutions Director Barry Edwards' Article on Comprehensive Arbitration of Domestic Relations Cases in Georgia appears in the latest issue of the Georgia Bar Journal. These web sites offer more information about mediation: International Academy of Collaborative Professionals: An international community of professionals creating a client-centered process for resolving conflict. Real Divorce Mediation: Blog by attorney-mediators in San Francisco and Seattle. More ADR links

About the Author: This research report on Opportunities in the ADR Field in Georgia was compiled by Jennifer Matte. Ms. Matte is Vermont Law School graduate. During law school, she completed an externship with the Consortium for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. Her work with The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. has primarily focused on the emergence of specializations within the ADR community. Questions and comments regarding this research may be directed to jmatte@vermontlaw.edu. See State and Local Requirements for: General Civil Mediation Domestic Relations Mediation Arbitration Early Neutral / Case Evaluation Continuing Requirements Opportunities with the Office of Child Support Services Child Access and Visitation Programs are offered in DeKalb and Cobb Counties by the GA Dept of Human Resources’ Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) (funded by a grant from the Federal Administration for Children and Families) Designed to assist parents who pay child support and need help communicating with the custodial parent about spending time with their children Eligibility requires that the parent’s child support case is handled by the OCSS rather than private attorneys. The non-custodial parent must have a court case pending on matters such as legitimation or visitation rights Custodial parent must live in DeKalb or Cobb Program provides certified mediators to help the parents resolve problems related to child visitation. Does not provide attorneys or legal advice Who administers the program? Who is the director and what is their title? GA Department of Human Resources Office of Child Support Services Those families wishing to mediate their child visitation matters must contact the mediation office in DeKalb Contact: (404) 370-8194 Certified mediators are available in DeKalb Who performs the mediation? How is this determined? Parents must contact the mediation office with their OCSS case number in order to verify eligibility DeKalb Office provides contact to certified mediators What are the requirements for training in order to mediate these disputes? How much experience is suggested or required? Similar programs from around the country require: 20 hour “child access” mediation training (prerequisite 40 hour divorce or basic mediation training) Specific components address: -State domestic relations law -Child development theory -Writing effective parenting agreements Additional Information on State Requirements: Georgia Supreme Court ADR Rules, Appendix B: Requirements for Training and Qualification of Neutrals Ethics Information from the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Neutral Registration: From the GCDR State Approved Training Programs: Indexed by Type of Training Additional Information on Local Requirements: Clayton Judicial Circuit ADR Rules: See Rule 6: Qualification of Neutrals Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Mediator Qualifications for Certification Cobb County Superior Court Mediation Program: Case Evaluator Qualifications Dekalb County Dispute Resolution Program Policies and Procedure Gwinnett ADR Program Internal Operating Procedures See Rule 1.5: Neutral Qualifications 6th JAD ADR Program Rules and Procedures: See Rule 9: Neutral Qualifications 7th Judicial Administrative District: Mediator Qualifications 9th Judicial Administrative District ADR Rules See Rule 5: Neutral Qualifications for Service in the Program

The Center for Legal Solutions, Inc. 65 Whitlock Avenue Marietta, Georgia 30064 Phone: 770-693-3470   Fax: 770-419-4464