---
title: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-20. Referral for mediation.
collection: code
id: 15-11-20
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 15-11-20 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-20
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-20.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/15-11-20/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t15-ch1-11a-(v13)-2020-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d8a8826c_0#page=701
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: COURTS / JUVENILE CODE / GENERAL PROVISIONS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 15-11-20. Referral for mediation.

(a) At any time during a proceeding under this chapter, the court may refer a case to mediation.

(b) When referring a case to mediation, the court shall take into consideration the guidelines from the Georgia Commission of Dispute Resolution for mediating cases involving domestic violence or family violence.

(c) A referral order shall recite that while the parties shall attend a scheduled mediation session and shall attempt to mediate in good faith, such parties shall not be required to reach an agreement.

(d) Victims in a delinquency case referred to mediation may attend and participate in such mediation, but shall not be required to do so as a condition of such case being heard by the juvenile court.

## History

Code 1981, § 15-11-20, enacted by Ga. L. 2013, p. 294, § 1-1/HB 242.

## Cross References

Georgia Court-Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, § 15-23-1 et seq.

## Law Reviews

For comment, ‘‘Victim Offender Mediation: When Divergent Paths and Destroyed Lives Come Together for Healing,’’ see 32 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 577 (2016).