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Court leaders urge more facilitators, mediation and remote services to help self-represented family-law litigants
Summary
State court officials told the subcommittee that family law cases and protective order filings have risen since 2020, most family litigants are self‑represented, and expanded facilitators, mediation and remote dockets (including a child support remote docket) help access but demand outstrips capacity.
State court leaders told the Public Safety Subcommittee on Feb. 24 that most family law cases now involve at least one self‑represented litigant and that the courts lack capacity to meet demand for facilitators and mediation.
The nut graf: Nancy Kozine and Amy Miller said facilitation, mediation and a new child support remote docket demonstrably improve access and outcomes, but staffing and funding shortages leave many counties underserved.
Nancy Kozine, state court administrator, said family law filings have been "ticking up" and that "86% of family law cases involve at least 1 self represented litigant," a dynamic the courts seek to address through facilitation, translated…
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