Mediation Order

[Buzzintx]

What is the name of your state? TX

My wife received a Mediation Order. We are not sure what to do since we cannot afford an attorney or pay the mediation fee. What can we do?

[Chien]

Please provide more details.

Mediation is "facilitated negotiation". The mediator's role is as a "neutral" to help the parties arrive at a resolution that they want. You don't necessarily need an attorney; most of the discussion should be with your wife. Also, if the mediation is court-ordered, that is often done by volunteers, who commit a specific window of time and only charge a fee if that time is exceeded.

You haven't provided any context to know the larger picture and whether what's "common" is also what is happening in this instance.

[Texas Pooh]

If you received a mediation order from a court, you must be in a lawsuit in Texas. Most courts in Texas automatically send out mediation orders at some point in the lawsuit process. If you are in small claims court, there is no fee for mediation. If you are in county or district court, and you can not afford the mediation fee, you'll need to ask the Court for a hearing to object to mediation. Call the clerk of the court and ask how to set a hearing.

At the hearing, ask the Court to send you to one of the free/- reduced fee mediation services - there are many.