Rule 2. Designation of the Mediator

(a) Designation of a Mediator by Agreement of the Parties. By agreement, the parties may designate a family financial mediator certified under these rules by filing a Designation of Mediator by Agreement of Parties in Family Financial Case and Order of Appointment, Form AOC-CV-825 (Designation Form), requesting that the chief district court judge approve the designation. The Designation Form shall be filed at the scheduling and discovery conference. The plaintiff or plaintiff’s attorney should file the Designation Form; however, any party may file the Designation Form. The party filing the Designation Form shall serve a copy on all parties and the mediator designated to conduct the mediation. The Designation Form shall state: (i) the name, e-mail address, address, and telephone number of the designated mediator; (ii) the rate of compensation of the mediator; (iii) that the mediator and opposing counsel have agreed upon the designation and rate of compensation; and (iv) that the mediator is certified under these rules. (b) Appointment of a Mediator by the Court. If the parties cannot agree on the designation of a mediator, then the parties shall notify the court by filing an Appointment of Mediator by Court Order in Family Financial Case, Form AOC­ CV-841 (Mediator Appointment Form), requesting that the court appoint a certified mediator. The Mediator Appointment shall be filed at the scheduling and discovery conference and shall state that the parties have discussed the designation of a mediator and have been unable to agree. Upon receipt of a Mediator Appointment Form, or in the event that the parties fail to file a Designation Form or a Mediator Appointment Form with the court at the scheduling and discovery conference, the court shall appoint a family financial mediator certified under these rules who has expressed a willingness to mediate disputes within the judicial district. In appointing a mediator, the court shall rotate through a list of available certified mediators. Appointments shall be made without regard to race, gender, religious affiliation, or whether the mediator is a licensed attorney. The court shall retain discretion to depart from a strict rotation of mediators when, in the court’s discretion, there is good cause in a case to do so. As part of the application or certification renewal process, all mediators shall designate the judicial districts in which they are willing to accept court appointments. Each designation is a representation that the designating mediator has read and will abide by the local rules for, and will accept appointments from, the designated district and will not charge for travel time and expenses incurred in carrying out his or her duties associated with those appointments. A mediator’s refusal to accept an appointment in a judicial district designated by the mediator may be grounds for the mediator’s removal from the district’s appointment list by the Dispute Resolution Commission (Commission) or the chief district court judge. The Commission shall provide the district court judges in each judicial district a list of certified family financial mediators requesting appointments in that district. The list shall contain each mediator’s name, address, and telephone number. The list shall be provided to the judges electronically through the Commission’s website at https://www.ncdrc.gov. The Commission shall promptly notify the district court of any disciplinary action taken with respect to a mediator on the list of certified mediators for the judicial district. (c) Mediator Information Directory. To assist the parties in designating a mediator, the Commission shall assemble, maintain, and post a list of certified family financial mediators on its website at https://www.ncdrc.gov, accompanied by each mediator’s contact information and the judicial districts in which each mediator is available to serve. If a mediator has supplied it to the Commission, the list shall also provide the mediator’s designated attendance method and the mediator’s biographical information, including information about the mediator’s education, professional experience, and mediation training and experience. (d) Withdrawal or Disqualification of the Mediator. (1) Any party may move the chief district court judge of the judicial district where the case is pending for an order disqualifying the mediator using a Notice of Withdrawal/Disqualification of Mediator and Order for Substitution of Mediator, Form AOC-DRC-20. For good cause, an order disqualifying the mediator shall be entered. (2) A mediator who wishes to withdraw from a case may file a Notice of Withdrawal/Disqualification of Mediator and Order for Substitution of Mediator, Form AOC-DRC-20, with the chief district court judge of the judicial district where the case is pending. (3) If a mediator withdraws or is disqualified, then a substitute mediator shall be designated or appointed under this rule. A mediator who has withdrawn or been disqualified shall not be entitled to receive an administrative fee, unless the mediation has been commenced. History Note. 373 N.C. 708; 374 N.C. 1009; 384 N.C. 745; Order Dated 11 December 2024.