N.M. 12th Jud. Dist. LR12-401 – Domestic Relations Mediation

LR12-401. Domestic relations mediation.

A. Scope. This rule applies to all domestic relations actions involving a dispute over

custody or visitation of children filed in the Twelfth Judicial District Court, whether new or

reopened.

B. Application. The Twelfth Judicial District establishes a domestic relations

mediation program to assist the court, parents, and other interested parties in determining the best

interests of children involved in domestic relations caes.

C. Mediation surcharge. Under Section 40-12-6 NMSA 1978, the district court

clerk shall collect a thirty dollar ($30.00) surcharge for all new and reopened domestic relations

cases other than those filed under the Family Violence Protection Act, Sections 40-13-1 to -8

NMSA 1978. The surcharge shall be in addition to the filing fee required under Section 34-6-40

NMSA 1978 for all new and reopened cases. The district court clerk shall deposit all surcharges

collected under this local rule in the “domestic relations mediation fund.”

D. Mediation fees. Each party shall pay a fee to the court clerk’s office to offset the

costs of the alternative dispute resolution program before mediation has begun. The parties shall

fill out a financial information sheet and their fee shall be determined by using the sliding fee

scale approved by the Supreme Court.

[Adopted by Supreme Court Order No. 16-8300-015, effective for all cases pending or filed on or

after December 31, 2016.]