Lebanon Cnty. C.P. Family Division Rules D

Administrative Order.

RULE 1915.4-3 – CONFERENCE AND HEARING BY CONCILIATOR

A. The Court shall appoint as a Conciliator(s), a member(s) of the Bar of

Lebanon County or other appropriate person, as an official of the

Court, to:

(1) Mediate custody matters filed with the Court;

(2) Conduct custody conferences;

(3) Recommend appointment of counsel for the child when

appropriate;

(4) Recommend the utilization of home studies and/or expert

witnesses including psychiatric and/or psychological

evaluations where appropriate;

(5) Conduct custody hearings;

(6) Prepare agreed interim or final orders for presentation to the

Court; and/or

(7) Direct payment of any advance costs required as assessed by

the Conciliator.

B. All custody matters shall be promptly scheduled for a conference

before the Conciliator. All parties shall be present for such

conference. Failure of a party to appear at the conference may

provide grounds for the entry of a recommendation of a temporary or

permanent order.

C. At the conference, each party shall provide the Conciliator and each

other with the following information, insofar as it is then available:

(1) A list of all fact witnesses;

(2) A list of all expert witnesses;

(3) Reports of experts intended to be called as witnesses;

(4) All reports from appropriate agencies;

(5) Issues for resolution; and

(6) Estimated length of trial;

Such information shall be updated, as appropriate, any time up to

commencement of the full hearing before the Conciliator. Failure to

produce the information specified herein at the time of the conference

before the Conciliator, may be grounds for excluding the evidence or

witnesses at subsequent proceedings.

D. Following the conference, the Conciliator may present a proposed

Interim Order to the Court.