Reviewed August 2026
Mediation in Louisiana
Louisiana courts have discretion to order mediation in a custody or visitation dispute. The law doesn't make it an automatic step in every case. Under Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:332, the court may order the parties to mediate their differences in a custody or visitation proceeding. The mediator can be someone the parties agree on. If they can't agree, the court picks one. Once a court orders mediation under this statute, it can pause, or stay, any further custody or visitation determination for up to 30 days. The court can order the cost of mediation paid in advance by either party or both. If the parties reach an agreement, the court can apportion those costs between them. If mediation ends without an agreement, the cost gets taxed as a regular court cost instead. Separately, Louisiana's general civil mediation referral statute excludes cases brought under the state's family violence and domestic abuse relief laws. It treats child custody and visitation mediation as its own category, governed specifically by R.S. 9:332.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how mediation works under Louisiana law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Louisiana paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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When a Louisiana court can order custody mediation
La. R.S. 9:332(A) lets the court order the parties to mediate their differences in a custody or visitation proceeding. The mediator can be someone the parties agree on. If they can't agree, the court selects one instead. Once mediation is ordered, the court may stay any further determination of custody or visitation for up to 30 days from the date of the order. That gives the mediation process a defined window to work within the case timeline.
Cost of mediation and how an agreement becomes a consent judgment
Under R.S. 9:332(A), the court can order the cost of mediation paid in advance by either party or both parties jointly. If the parties reach an agreement through mediation, the court can apportion the mediation costs between them as part of resolving the case. R.S. 9:332(B) sets out what happens next. The mediator prepares a written, signed, and dated agreement. A consent judgment that incorporates the agreement then goes to the court for approval. This gives Louisiana a clear, statute-defined path from a mediated agreement to an enforceable court order, instead of leaving the process to informal practice. If mediation ends without an agreement, the cost is instead taxed as a cost of court. Any cost of mediation remains subject to the court's approval.
Confidentiality
R.S. 9:332(C) makes evidence of conduct or statements made in mediation inadmissible in any proceeding. This doesn't mean excluding evidence that would otherwise be discoverable just because it also came up in mediation. Facts disclosed in mediation, apart from the conduct or statements made there, aren't shielded from admission merely because they first surfaced in a mediation session. In short, what you say and do in the mediation room is protected. The underlying facts aren't automatically hidden if they're independently discoverable.
How this fits with Louisiana's general civil mediation law
Louisiana has a separate, broader civil mediation referral statute, R.S. 9:4103. It lets a court order mediation for civil cases generally on a party's motion, subject to a party's right to object within 15 days of the order. That general statute specifically excludes actions brought under Louisiana's Post-Separation Family Violence Relief Act and Domestic Abuse Assistance Act. It also treats child custody and visitation actions as their own category, governed instead by R.S. 9:332 and related provisions.
Domestic violence and mediation
R.S. 9:332 itself does not spell out a specific domestic violence exemption within its text. But Louisiana's broader mediation framework under R.S. 9:4103 keeps family violence and domestic abuse relief cases out of the general civil mediation referral track entirely. Anyone with safety concerns in a custody or visitation matter should raise them directly with the court before a mediation order under R.S. 9:332 is issued. The statute gives the court discretion over whether to order mediation in the first place.
Sources: Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:332, Custody or visitation proceeding; mediation (Louisiana State Legislature), Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:4103, Referral of a case for mediation; exceptions (Louisiana State Legislature)
Not independently confirmed
- Mediator qualification requirements specific to custody and visitation mediation under Louisiana law
- Whether any Louisiana district court runs a dedicated low-cost or free custody mediation program versus relying on privately retained mediators
- Whether R.S. 9:332 has a companion provision (such as R.S. 9:333 or nearby sections) directly addressing domestic violence screening for custody mediation specifically
Mediation in Louisiana: frequently asked questions
Is mediation required for custody disputes in Louisiana?+
Not automatically. La. R.S. 9:332(A) lets the court order the parties to mediate their differences in a custody or visitation proceeding. But it's up to the court's discretion. It isn't a rule that applies to every case from the moment it's filed.
How long can a Louisiana court pause my case for mediation?+
Under R.S. 9:332(A), the court may stay any further determination of custody or visitation for up to 30 days from the date it orders mediation. This gives the mediation process a defined window within the overall case timeline.
Who pays for court-ordered custody mediation in Louisiana?+
The court can order either party or both parties jointly to pay for mediation in advance. If the parties reach an agreement, the court can apportion the cost between them. If mediation ends without an agreement, the cost is instead taxed as a regular cost of court, subject to the court's approval.
Is what I say in Louisiana custody mediation confidential?+
Yes, with limits. R.S. 9:332(C) makes evidence of conduct or statements made in mediation inadmissible in any proceeding. It doesn't shield evidence that's otherwise independently discoverable just because it also came up during mediation.
How does a Louisiana mediation agreement become a court order?+
Under R.S. 9:332(B), the mediator prepares a written, signed, and dated agreement. A consent judgment incorporating it then goes to the court for approval. It becomes enforceable once the court approves the consent judgment.
Does Louisiana exempt domestic violence cases from mediation?+
R.S. 9:332 itself doesn't spell out a domestic violence exemption in its text. But Louisiana's general civil mediation statute, R.S. 9:4103, excludes certain cases from that broader civil mediation process entirely. Those excluded cases include ones brought under the Post-Separation Family Violence Relief Act and the Domestic Abuse Assistance Act. Raise any safety concern with the court before a mediation order in your custody case.
This page is general information about mediation in Louisiana, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Louisiana's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Virdix does not prepare or file Louisiana divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Louisiana.
More Louisiana divorce guides
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