Does Illinois Have a Mandatory Court Mediation Program?
Direct Answer
Illinois has court-annexed mediation programs, but requirements vary by court and case type. Mediation is required for many contested parenting disputes unless the court excuses it for good cause.
Illinois has a well-developed court-annexed mediation system, though requirements vary by court and case type. The Illinois Supreme Court Rules 99 and 101 authorize courts to refer cases to mediation, and Supreme Court Rule 905 specifically governs court-annexed mediation in civil cases. In Cook County (Chicago), the Circuit Court's Mandatory Arbitration Program handles cases between $10,000 and $75,000, with mediation available as an alternative. The Cook County Chancery Division and Law Division have active ADR programs. In family law cases, Illinois Supreme Court Rule 905 requires mediation for all contested child custody and parenting time disputes in cases filed on or after January 1, 2018, unless the court finds good cause to excuse mediation. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act (750 ILCS 60/) provides that mediation is not appropriate in cases involving domestic violence. The Illinois Dispute Resolution Institute at Northern Illinois University College of Law and the Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) in Chicago are the primary training and resource organizations. The Illinois Association of Mediators (IAM) is the primary professional association.