767.401(1)(b) (b) During the pendency of an action to determine the paternity of a child, or an action affecting the family for which the underlying action was an action to determine the paternity of a child, if the court determines that it is appropriate and in the best interest of the child, the court, on its own motion, may order either or both of the parties to attend a program specified by the court providing training in parenting or coparenting skills, or both.

767.401(1)(c) (c) A program under par. (a) or (b) shall be educational rather than therapeutic in nature and may not exceed a total of 4 hours in length. The parties shall be responsible for the cost, if any, of attendance at the program. The court may specifically assign responsibility for payment of any cost. No facts or information obtained in the course of the program, and no report resulting from the program, is admissible in any action or proceeding.

767.401(1)(d) (d) Notwithstanding s. 767.35 (1), the court may require the parties to an action affecting the family in which a minor child is involved to attend a program under par. (a) or (b) as a condition to the granting of a final judgment or order in the action affecting the family.

767.401(1)(e) (e) A party who fails to attend a program ordered under par. (a) or (b) or pay costs specifically ordered under par. (c) may be proceeded against under ch. 785 for contempt of court.

767.401(2) (2) Classes on parenting.

767.401(2)(a) (a) During the pendency of a divorce or paternity action, the court may order the parties to attend a class that is approved by the court and that addresses such issues as child development, family dynamics, how parental separation affects a child’s development, and what parents can do to make raising a child in a separated situation less stressful for the child.

767.401(2)(b) (b) The court may not require the parties to attend a class under this subsection as a condition to the granting of the final judgment or order in the divorce or paternity action, however, the court may refuse to hear a custody or physical placement motion of a party who refuses to attend a class ordered under this subsection.

767.401(2)(c) (c)

767.401(2)(c)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the parties shall be responsible for any cost of attending the class.

767.401(2)(c)2. 2. If the court finds that a party is indigent, any costs that would be the responsibility of that party shall be paid by the county.

767.401 History History: 1993 a. 225; 1997 a. 45; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 61; 2003 a. 130; 2005 a. 443 ss. 59 to 63, 180; Stats. 2005 s. 767.401.

767.405 767.405 Family court services.

767.405(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

767.405(1)(a) (a) “Mediation” means a cooperative process involving the parties and a mediator, the purpose of which is to help the parties, by applying communication and dispute resolution skills, define and resolve their own disagreements, with the best interest of the child as the paramount consideration.

767.405(1)(b) (b) “Mediator” means a person with special skills and training in dispute resolution.

767.405(1m) (1m) Director.

767.405(1m)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b) and subject to approval by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district, the circuit judge or judges in each county shall designate a person meeting the qualifications under sub. (4) as the director of family court services in that county.

767.405(1m)(b) (b) If 2 or more contiguous counties enter into a cooperative agreement under sub. (3) (b), the circuit judges for the counties involved shall, subject to approval by the chief judge of the judicial administrative district, designate a person meeting the qualifications under sub. (4) as the director of family court services for those counties.

767.405(1m)(c) (c) A county or counties may designate the supervisor of the office of family court commissioner as the director under par. (a) or (b).

767.405(2) (2) Duties. A director of family court services designated under sub. (1m) shall administer a family court services office if such an office is established under sub. (3) (a) or (b). Regardless of whether the office is established, the director shall:

767.405(2)(a) (a) Employ staff to perform mediation and to perform any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14), arrange and monitor staff training, and assign and monitor staff case load.

767.405(2)(b) (b) Contract under sub. (3) (c) with a person or public or private entity to perform mediation and to perform any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14).

767.405(2)(c) (c) Supervise and perform mediation and any legal custody and physical placement study services authorized under sub. (14), and evaluate the quality of the mediation or study services.

767.405(2)(d) (d) Administer and manage funding for family court services.

767.405(3) (3) Mediation provided. Mediation shall be provided in every county in this state by any of the following means:

767.405(3)(a) (a) A county may establish a family court services office to provide mediation in that county.

767.405(3)(b) (b) Two or more contiguous counties may enter into a cooperative agreement to establish one family court services office to provide mediation in those counties.

767.405(3)(c) (c) A director of family court services designated under sub. (1m) may contract with any person or public or private entity, located in a county in which the director administers family court services or in a contiguous county, to provide mediation in the county in which the person or entity is located.

767.405(4) (4) Mediator qualifications. Every mediator assigned under sub. (6) (a) shall have not less than 25 hours of mediation training or not less than 3 years of professional experience in dispute resolution. Every mediator assigned under sub. (6) (a) shall have training on the dynamics of domestic violence and the effects of domestic violence on victims of domestic violence and on children.