Do we still have to go to court after mediation?

Usually, yes. Mediation can resolve the disputed issues, but the mediator does not have authority to grant a Wisconsin divorce or convert a private agreement into a court judgment.

If mediation is successful, the parties generally reduce their agreements to written documents for submission to the circuit court. In a divorce, the court still conducts the required final proceedings, reviews the agreement, makes statutory findings, and enters the judgment of divorce.

For custody and placement agreements, court approval is also important because an informal agreement between parents does not automatically replace an existing court order. The agreement should be properly documented and submitted for approval so that the operative order is clear and enforceable.

Successful mediation can nevertheless greatly reduce the amount of contested court time because the judge may be presented with agreed terms rather than being asked to decide every issue after trial.

Primary Wisconsin authorities: Wis. Stat. ch. 767, including provisions governing divorce judgments, stipulations, custody, and placement.