15-11-22. Agreement to mediate; procedure.

The parties shall sign and date a written agreement to mediate. The agreement to mediate shall identify the controversies between the parties, affirm the parties’ intent to resolve such controversies through mediation, and specify the circumstances under which mediation may continue. The agreement to mediate shall specify the confidentiality requirements of mediation and the exceptions to confidentiality in mediation as such are set forth in the Supreme Court of Georgia Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules and appendices.#

A mediator shall not knowingly assist the parties in reaching an agreement which would be unenforceable for reasons such as fraud, duress, the absence of bargaining ability, unconscionability, or lack of court jurisdiction.#

Prior to the parties signing an agreement to mediate, the mediator shall advise the parties that each of them may obtain review by an attorney of any agreement reached as a result of the mediation.#

The mediator shall at all times be impartial.#