Lancaster Cnty. C.P. Rules of Orphans' Court Rule 1.6

All interested parties in a matter may use mediation to resolve issues pending

before the Court, and, upon either partial or complete resolution, may petition the Court

to approve the agreement of all interested parties as an order or decree of the Court.

(a) The interested parties may engage the services of a mediator, either prior to

or after any interested party has filed a pleading before the Court, including an Account

filed by a fiduciary for audit.

(b) Upon the filing of a pleading before the Court, including an Account filed by a

fiduciary for audit, the Clerk may provide the filing party with generic information,

regarding availability of mediation for the resolution of disputes prior to adjudication by

the Court.

(c) The filing party may provide such information to other interested parties. The

information, which does not bind the Court, and which may be in the form of a standard

brochure or reliable Internet resources, should include:

1. A brief description of the mediation process;

2. The anticipated benefits of mediation for litigants and associated

professionals; and

3. Contact information to initiate mediation.

(d) All the interested parties in a matter docketed before the Court may request

to engage in mediation at any time during the pendency of the matter.

(e) In such request for mediation, all interested parties shall identify:

1. The proposed mediator, the qualifications of the mediator and the

proposed source of payment of fees and costs of the mediator;

2. Names and contact information of all interested parties and any

counsel who shall participate in the mediation;

3. Names and information regarding any interested parties having

diminished capacity or a legal disability, whose interests must be

adequately protected; and

4. The scheduled date for the initial mediation conference.

(f) All interested parties shall execute an agreement for confidential mediation,

which is not inconsistent with this local rule, and which shall remain confidential.

(g) Mediation shall not delay the required filing of any pleading or ordered return

dates, or the scheduling of Court hearings, unless specifically requested by joinder of

the interested parties and so ordered by the Court.

(h) The Court will respect the confidentiality of the mediation process and of the

mediator’s obligation of confidentiality.

(i) Upon completion of mediation, all interested parties shall sign a memorandum

of principal terms, which either shall acknowledge that no resolution was reached, or

shall embody the resolutions attained. This memorandum of principal terms shall

clearly state partial resolutions or complete resolution attained. The memorandum of

principal terms shall include a list of unresolved issues to be determined by the Court.

Where appropriate, the principal terms could provide for future review in light of

changed circumstances or a change in the operative facts. The memorandum of

principal terms agreed upon, or the statement of no resolution, shall be filed with the

Court.

(j) In no event shall the terms agreed upon depart from or violate any provisions

of applicable law, specifically including the Older Adults Protective Services Act, the Act

of Dec. 18, 1996, P.L. 1125, No.169 (34 P.S. §§ 10225.101-10225.5102), as may be

amended.

(k) The interested parties may request that the Court approve the final mediated

agreement, which embodies the principal terms agreed upon in the memorandum

referenced above. The Court may grant approval in an order or decree. Alternatively,

the Court may recommend any changes that the Court deems appropriate for approval.

The parties to the mediation may accept the Court’s recommendations, in which event

the terms agreed upon, as modified, shall be approved, or the parties may decline to

accept the Court’s recommendations, in which event the matter is deemed not to have

resulted in an agreement.