<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta charset="UTF-8" /><meta http-equiv='content-language' content='en-us'/><title>SDLRC - Codified Law 25-4-56 - Custody and visitation disputes--Mediation order--Exceptions--Investigation--Allocation of costs. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2049862Normal { text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049862SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049862CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049862Normal-000000 { text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049862DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049862Normal-000001 { margin-left: 0.70in; text-indent: -0.45in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-top: 0; margin-right: 0; margin-bottom: .001pt; } span.s2049862000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049862SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049862SCL-000003 { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } body { text-decoration-skip-ink: none; } </style></head><body><div><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=25-4-56"><span class="s2049862SENU">25-4-56</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049862SENU">. </span><span class="s2049862CL">Custody and visitation disputes--Mediation order--Exceptions--Investigation--Allocation of costs.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal-000000"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">In any custody or visitation dispute between parents, the court shall order mediation to assist the parties in formulating or modifying a plan, or in implementing a plan, for custody or visitation and shall allocate the cost of the mediation between the parties. However, mediation shall not be ordered if:</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal-000001"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">(1)    One of the parents has been convicted of domestic abuse as defined in subdivision 25-10-1(1); or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal-000001"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">(2)    One of the parents has been convicted of assault against a person as defined in subdivision 25-10-1(2), except against any person related by consanguinity, but not living in the same household; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal-000001"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">(3)    One of the parents has a history of domestic abuse; or</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal-000001"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">(4)    Mediation is not readily available or the court determines that mediation is not appropriate based on the facts and circumstances of the case.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal"><span class="s2049862DefaultParagraphFont">The court may also direct that an investigation be conducted to assist the court in making a custody or visitation determination and shall allocate the costs of such investigation between the parties. A history of domestic abuse may only be proven by greater convincing force of the evidence.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049862000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049862Normal"><span class="s2049862SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049862SCL-000003"> SL 1989, ch 218; SDCL Supp, § 26-5A-31; SL 1994, ch 193; SL 2008, ch 123, § 1.</span></p></div></body></html>