What happens if an agreement is reached?
When an agreement is reached in mediation, a written agreement is prepared at the conclusion of the mediation session and the parties sign the agreement. Each party is given a copy of the signed agreement, and the original agreement is sent to the court file. The agreement is presented to the judge at the next scheduled court hearing in the case, or at a court hearing that is scheduled for this purpose, and the judge reviews the agreement. The judge either signs an order approving the agreement and making it a court order, or else the judge has some objection to the agreement and refuses to sign the order. In such event, the judge and the parties discuss the matter further and either amend the agreement, or else the judge may have to set a hearing date on the issues in dispute.