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Genesis Mediation of Indiana

Learning Center

Genesis Mediation Learning Center

The Genesis Mediation Learning Center is designed for individuals, couples, and co-parents seeking clear, practical information about family mediation, divorce, parenting time, and parenting plans in Indiana. 


Whether you are exploring your options, preparing for mediation, or looking for a more respectful way to resolve family disagreements, you’ll find answers to common questions and resources to help you better understand the process and make informed decisions about your next steps.


* The content provided is general, publicly available information, and is not to be considered as legal advice.

Featured Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Divorce and Divorce Mediation

Divorce mediation is often less expensive than hiring two divorce attorneys to negotiate every issue. In mediation, you work with one neutral professional to resolve issues together. You may still choose to consult your own attorney, but mediation can often reduce legal expenses, court costs, and the stress of a contested divorce.

In Indiana, your divorce still has to be filed with a court and approved by a judge. However, if you reach a full agreement through divorce mediation, you may be able to avoid a contested hearing and, depending on the court, an in-person appearance. After the required paperwork is filed and Indiana's waiting period has passed, the judge can review and sign the final decree. Learn more through Indiana Legal Help.

No. Indiana generally allows spouses to complete an agreed divorce without hiring attorneys. A divorce mediator remains neutral, though, and cannot represent either spouse or give either person individual legal advice. 


You are always welcome to consult your own attorney before, during, or after mediation. An attorney's guidance can be especially helpful when your divorce involves a business, retirement benefits, complex property, significant debt, or questions about whether an agreement protects your interests.

Divorce mediation can help Indiana couples work through nearly every issue that must be settled before a divorce is finalized, including:

  • Division of property, bank accounts, vehicles and household belongings 
  • Responsibility for mortgages, loans, credit cards and other debts 
  • The marital home 
  • Retirement accounts and pensions 
  • Spousal maintenance when applicable 
  • Legal custody and major decisions involving the children 
  • Parenting-time schedules, holidays and vacations 
  • Child support and child-related expenses 
  • Health insurance, education and childcare 
  • Tax-related parenting issues 
  • Communication and future dispute-resolution procedures 


You may resolve every issue in mediation, or you may agree on some matters and ask the court to decide the rest.

After divorce mediation, the terms you agreed to are put in writing for both spouses to review. Either spouse may ask an independent attorney to review the agreement before signing. The signed agreement and other required divorce documents are then filed with the court. 


If the judge approves the terms and all legal requirements have been met, the agreement becomes part of the final divorce decree and is enforceable as a court order. The court, rather than the mediator, is what legally ends the marriage. You can read more in Indiana ADR Rule 2.7.

Parenting Time and Parenting Plans

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines help parents and courts build parenting-time arrangements. They cover regular schedules, holidays, school breaks, transportation, communication, exchanges, young children, long-distance parenting, and shared-parenting arrangements.

The Guidelines are a starting point, not a one-size-fits-all schedule. Parents may create a different plan when it better meets their child's needs. If parents cannot agree, the Guidelines describe the minimum parenting time generally considered appropriate. View the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines.

Parenting time in Indiana may be decided by the parents or by the court. Parents can create their own schedule and submit it to the court for approval. If they cannot agree, the judge will decide based on the child's best interests.

The court may look at the child's age and developmental needs, school schedule, relationship with each parent, each parent's work schedule, the distance between their homes, caregiving history, and any concerns involving abuse, violence, substance use, or safety. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines often provide a starting point, but the court may order a different arrangement when the family's circumstances call for it.

A thoughtful Indiana parenting plan can cover:

  • The regular weekday and weekend schedule
  • Holidays, birthdays and school breaks
  • Summer vacations and travel
  • Transportation and exchange arrangements
  • Pick-up and drop-off times and locations
  • Communication between the parents
  • Telephone or video contact with the child
  • School, medical and extracurricular information
  • Childcare and opportunities for additional parenting time
  • Procedures for schedule changes and make-up time
  • Relocation and long-distance parenting
  • How future disagreements will be addressed


A clear, detailed plan helps everyone understand what to expect and can prevent many future misunderstandings.

Yes. Indiana parents can create their own parenting-time agreement based on their children's needs and the realities of family life. You are not limited to the standard schedule in the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines.

If a divorce, paternity, or custody case is pending, or if you are changing an existing order, the agreement should be submitted to the court for approval. Once the judge approves it, the agreement becomes an enforceable court order.

Yes. Unmarried parents in Indiana can use mediation to create a parenting plan. You do not have to be married, or have been married, to mediate agreements about custody, parenting time, holidays, communication, transportation, and other parenting matters.

Legal paternity must also be established through a properly completed paternity affidavit or a court proceeding. The mediated agreement can then be submitted to the court as part of the paternity or parenting-time case. Learn more from Indiana DCS about establishing paternity.

To establish parenting time in Indiana, a father must first have legal paternity. Paternity may be established through a valid paternity affidavit or a court proceeding. Once paternity is established, he may ask the appropriate Indiana court for a parenting-time order.

Parents can create a schedule together, either on their own or through mediation, and submit it to the court. If the other parent will not agree, a legal father can still ask the court to establish parenting time. Indiana Legal Help offers parenting-time forms and resources for parents who were never married, whether they agree or disagree.

If your co-parent will not agree to mediation, start by sharing clear information about the process and the specific issues you hope to resolve. Mediation works best when both parents are willing to participate and make a sincere effort, and it gives both of you a voice in the outcome.

If your co-parent still declines, you may need to ask the court to address the disputed issues. In some cases, the court may order mediation. You may also want to speak with a family-law attorney about your options.

Indiana parents can agree to temporary parenting-time changes, such as trading a weekend or adjusting a pick-up time. Keep in mind that an informal agreement usually does not replace the existing court order.

For a lasting change, the safest approach is to put the new agreement in writing and submit it to the court for approval. Until the court approves it, the current order generally remains enforceable. If you cannot agree on a permanent change, either parent may ask the court to modify parenting time when doing so would serve the child's best interests.

When Indiana parents cannot agree on a parenting schedule, mediation can help them talk through their concerns and build a plan that works for their family. You may reach a complete agreement or resolve only some of the disputed issues.

If you still cannot agree, the court will set the parenting-time schedule. The judge may consider each parent's proposal, the family's circumstances, the child's best interests, and the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. Mediation gives parents more control over the result; at a hearing, the judge makes the final decision.

Indiana parents are welcome to create their own holiday and school-break schedule. If they do not, the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines provide a schedule that generally alternates many holidays between the parents in odd- and even-numbered years.

Under the Guidelines, Mother's Day is generally spent with the mother and Father's Day with the father. Christmas vacation is usually divided into two parts, while spring break, fall break, and other holidays alternate. Holiday parenting time normally takes priority over the regular weekly schedule, and the child's school calendar determines school-break dates. View the Indiana holiday parenting-time schedule.

If your co-parent is not following the parenting plan, start by reviewing the written plan or court order. Raise the concern calmly and in writing, keep accurate records of missed or denied parenting time, and try to resolve the issue directly or through mediation. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines allow make-up parenting time in certain situations.

Avoid responding by withholding child support, denying future parenting time, or violating another part of the order. Parenting time and child support are separate responsibilities.

If the problem continues and your parenting plan is a court order, you may ask the court to enforce it or find the other parent in contempt. Consider speaking with a family-law attorney before filing. If you believe your child is in immediate danger, seek legal help right away and contact the appropriate emergency or child-protection authorities.

Working With Genesis Mediation of Indiana

To start mediation with Genesis Mediation of Indiana, contact us and tell us a little about the situation you would like to resolve. We will explain how mediation works, answer general questions, and discuss the next steps. Before a session is scheduled, both parties must be willing to participate and complete any requested intake and scheduling information.

During a Genesis mediation session, your mediator will guide the conversation, help both parties stay focused on the issues, and keep the discussion moving toward possible solutions. You will not be asked to relive every reason the conflict began. The goal is to help both of you feel heard, understand the choices in front of you, and make practical decisions about moving forward.

No. If meeting together would not feel comfortable or productive, the mediator can speak with each party separately. When ongoing communication is important because of children or other loved ones, a joint conversation may sometimes help rebuild healthier communication. Remote mediation through Zoom is also available.

Yes. Genesis Mediation offers online mediation through Zoom, and many clients find that remote mediation works very well. In-person mediation is also available upon request.

Mediation length depends on the number and complexity of the issues. Some matters are resolved in one session, while divorce mediation may require several sessions on different days. We coordinate scheduling with both parties. Mediation does not shorten Indiana's required waiting period before a divorce can be finalized.

Weekend mediation appointments may be available. If an attorney will attend, please confirm the attorney's availability. Virtual mediation may offer more scheduling flexibility.

Schedule a free consultation today to see how mediation can help you with your particular needs.

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