Fresno County uses more than one court-connected custody process, and the privacy rules depend on the session. The initial mediation is confidential, while later recommending counseling sessions aren’t and result in a report to the court.
Understanding that distinction is central to preparing for custody mediation. Your session type determines what the counselor communicates to the court and how you should organize your proposed parenting terms.
Complete These Steps Before Your First Appointment
In California, contested custody and visitation issues generally go to mediation before the court makes custody orders. Fresno County’s Family Court Services handles this process through the B.F. Sisk Courthouse, where family law custody filings and hearings are also held.
The first custody hearing is commonly a readiness hearing. The court determines whether the case is ready to proceed. If the paperwork is in order and both parents are present, they’re directed to contact the department to schedule a Tier 1 appointment.
Before the scheduled appointment, each parent must complete the Family Court Services Orientation program unless excused by the court. The orientation explains the counselor’s role, the issues addressed, possible outcomes, and the limits of confidentiality. Missing this requirement can lead to adverse court consequences, so complete it before treating the appointment as confirmed.
Understand What the Counselor May Tell the Court
The county’s custody sessions follow different confidentiality rules. Understand which rules apply before discussing sensitive family issues with a counselor.
Tier 1 Confidential Mediation
In this session, the mediator reports only whether the parents reached an agreement. The mediator doesn’t disclose the discussion to the court except when mandatory reporting applies to suspected abuse or danger.
Tier 2 & Recommending Counseling
Tier 2 sessions and Child Custody Recommending Counseling aren’t confidential. In recommending counseling, often called CCRC, the counselor submits a report and, when appropriate, a recommendation to the court. Be prepared to explain proposed custody and parenting-time terms clearly, keeping the child’s needs and routine at the center of the discussion.
Neither parent has to accept a proposed agreement. Mediation requires meaningful participation, not a forced settlement. If no agreement is reached, the case continues through the court process according to the next hearing and applicable procedures.
Build a Parenting Plan Around the Child’s Actual Routine
A parenting plan is a written proposal for how parents will share time and responsibilities. A useful plan is specific enough to work during an ordinary school week, not merely broad enough to sound cooperative.
The county requires each parent to complete and submit an updated Family Court Services Intake Form before every Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 appointment. Complete the form carefully and keep it consistent with the schedule and concerns you plan to discuss.
Bring a proposed schedule that addresses the practical details of the child’s life:
- Regular parenting time during school weeks, including exchange days and times.
- Holidays, birthdays, school breaks, and summer vacation.
- Transportation responsibilities and exchange locations.
- School, medical, therapy, religious, or activity schedules that affect parenting time.
Bring records that document the child’s routine, such as school calendars, work schedules, medical information, current court orders, and written temporary agreements. Keep copies of everything you bring. The department addresses custody and visitation, not property division or other financial disputes.
Prepare at least one workable alternative if your preferred schedule depends on a work shift, long commute, or variable activity schedule. For example, a parent proposing weekday overnights should be ready to explain transportation, homework time, and the morning school routine, then offer a realistic alternative if the arrangement doesn’t fit the child’s schedule.
Keep the Discussion Child Focused & Safe
Custody mediation is intended to reduce conflict and develop parenting arrangements that serve the best interests of the child. Prepare a clear explanation of what the child needs from week to week rather than a list of grievances about the other parent.
When the conversation shifts toward past relationship disputes, redirect it to a specific parenting issue. Instead of arguing that the other parent is difficult, describe the practical problem, such as repeated late exchanges, missed medical appointments, or a school-night schedule that leaves too little time for homework.
Use these child-centered discussion habits:
- Describe the child’s routine, care needs, and transitions between homes.
- Make specific proposals instead of demands or ultimatums.
- Avoid personal attacks, blame, threats, and arguments unrelated to parenting terms.
- Explain how a proposed term supports the child’s school, health, relationships, or stability.
Parents with a history of domestic violence or a protective order have the right to request separate mediation or recommending counseling sessions. A protected party is also allowed to bring a support person. Raise safety concerns before the appointment rather than trying to manage them through direct contact with the other parent at the courthouse.
Know What to Expect on the Appointment Day
Most parents in contested local custody matters attend court-connected services in person at the B.F. Sisk Courthouse. Exceptions for safety concerns or residence outside the area require court approval, so confirm any remote or separate arrangement in advance.
Arrive with your completed intake form, proposed parenting plan, and only documents directly related to parenting time or the child’s needs. Review your proposed terms before the session. Exchange times, communication methods, holiday rotations, transportation, and notice for schedule changes often determine whether an agreement works in practice.
Children don’t participate in Tier 1 sessions. For an At-Court Child Custody Recommending Counseling session, children age five and older must be brought to court. Follow the notice for your appointment instead of bringing a child to an initial mediation session.
If one parent doesn’t attend the initial appointment, the parent who appears is dismissed after a 15-minute grace period and directed to attend the upcoming court hearing. If the parents reach an agreement, it becomes binding when incorporated into a court order. Read proposed terms closely before agreeing because vague language often creates new disputes.
Prepare a Clear Position Before Your Mediation Date
Focus on the steps you control: complete the orientation and intake requirements, understand the session type, bring workable schedule options, and explain your position through the child’s daily needs. This preparation doesn’t decide the outcome, but it gives the counselor and court a clearer basis for understanding the issues.
Our attorneys draw on more than 30 years of combined experience to help parents prepare an organized position and stay informed as appointments, counselor reports, and hearings move forward. For child custody representation in Fresno, call Arnold Law Group, APC at (559) 900-1263.