An evaluation of remote child custody mediation in San Mateo County, California

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced courts to virtualize proceedings almost overnight, resulting in both an array of new technological tools as well as important questions about their long-term effects. This article studies the impact of the shift from in-person to remote child custody and visitation mediation in San Mateo County, California. Through surveys with parents, interviews with mediators and parents, and participation and outcome data, it captures the early experiences and results associated with remote mediation. The findings suggest that while remote mediation can offer benefits such as accessibility, comfort, and safety, other challenges persist. The study seeks to enable courts to better understand the obstacles and opportunities that arise from online platforms and inform future policy-making on the use of technology in their practices.