Venango Cnty. C.P. Local Domestic Relations Rules 2

a. Submit with the pleading, or at any time in the process, a request for

the court to appoint a conciliator on an order similar to the order that

follows:

____________________ : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF

: VENANGO COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA

vs. :

:

____________________ : CIV _____-______

ORDER OF COURT

You, _________, have been sued in court to modify custody, partial custody and/or

visitation to ____________________________.

___________________ is appointed conciliator, for the purpose of conducting a

conference with respect to the issues raised in the petition. The conciliator shall conduct

such a conference and shall report to the court as to whether or not the issues raised in the

petition are capable of resolution by agreement between the parties. The conciliator shall

confer with the parties and make every effort to achieve negotiated resolutions of the

issues raised in the petition. No testimony will be taken at the conciliation conference.

The parties should bring with them any relevant expert reports. If no such resolution can

be achieved, the conciliator shall so report to the court. He/she shall also submit an

interim proposed order, which shall include a date before a judge.

You are ordered to appear for the custody conciliation conference, which has been

scheduled for ________________.

If you fail to appear as provided by this order, an order for custody, partial custody or

visitation may be entered against you or the court may initiate contempt proceedings for

your failure to appear.

Plaintiff and defendant are directed to attend the court-sponsored seminar “Helping

Families Cope with Divorce and Custody” coordinated by Venango County O.E.O.

Brochures concerning the seminar are available in the Prothonotary’s Office and Judge’s

Chambers, or you may call (814) 432-9768. The court will not finalize this proceeding

until both parties have attended the seminar.

A video tape which explains the mediation process is available for viewing at every

public library within Venango County, the County Law Library (by appointment only)

and Northwestern Legal Services.

YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO

NOT HAVE A LAWYER OR CANNOT AFFORD ONE, GO TO OR TELEPHONE

THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL

HELP.

Northwestern Legal Services

1001 State Street

1200 Renaissance Center

Erie, PA 16501-1833

Phone: (814) 452-6949

The Court of Common Pleas of Venango County is required by law to comply with the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. For information about accessible facilities and

reasonable accommodations available to disabled individuals having business before the

court, please contact our office. All arrangements must be made at least 72 hours prior to

any hearing or business before the court. You must attend the scheduled conference or

hearing.

BY THE COURT,

__________________________________

Judge

Date: ___________________________

cc:

b. A conciliator will be appointed by the court from a qualified list of

conciliators who have been specially trained in mediation.

c. The conciliation before the conciliator shall be conducted within

fifteen (15) days of the appointment.

d. At the conciliation the conciliator will meet with the parties and their

attorneys and work toward settlement of the custody issues. If any

component of the case is settled, the conciliator will file a report

setting forth the agreement and any recommendation of the conciliator

and the proposed order to be signed by the court. If any component is

not settled or if the entire case is not settled, the conciliator will file a

report with the court reciting who attended the conciliation, the results

of the conciliation, recommendations for an interim order,

recommendations concerning whether an attorney for the child should

be appointed pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1915.11, and such other

recommendations which may help the parties in the interim in

resolving the matter or may help the court as the court addresses the

matter in judicial conciliation and trial. A proposed order of court will

be submitted. The order should address whether the children are

required to attend the judicial conciliation. The conciliator shall then

also, if any component of the case is not settled, either schedule further

conciliation before the conciliator, as the parties agree, or refer the

matter to the court and obtain a date and time for a conciliation before

a judge, which shall occur within thirty (30) days from the date of the

report. The conciliator should be prepared, as the matter is scheduled

through the District Court Administrator, to estimate the time required

for the court to conduct a conciliation.