<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 25-4A-23 - Home study or custody evaluation--Mediation. </title><meta name="Generator" content="PowerTools for Open XML" /><style>span { white-space: pre-wrap; } p.s2049918Normal { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2049918SENU { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049918CL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049918Normal-000000 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.50in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2049918DefaultParagraphFont { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } p.s2049918Normal-000001 { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0; text-indent: 0.25in; text-align: justify; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 108%; margin-left: 0; margin-right: 0; } span.s2049918000002 { font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049918SCL { font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; } span.s2049918SCL-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="s2049918Normal"><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=25-4A-23"><span class="s2049918SENU">25-4A-23</span></a><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049918SENU">. </span><span class="s2049918CL">Home study or custody evaluation--Mediation.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049918Normal-000000"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049918DefaultParagraphFont">Prior to ruling on a joint physical custody petition the court may require the parties to participate in a home study or a custody evaluation. Prior to the court ruling on a joint physical custody petition, either parent may request mediation pursuant to § </span><a href="https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&amp;Statute=25-4-56"><span class="s2049918DefaultParagraphFont">25-4-56</span></a><span class="s2049918DefaultParagraphFont">.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049918Normal-000001"><span class="s2049918DefaultParagraphFont">In any case where the court orders the parties to participate in a home study, custody evaluation, or custody mediation, the court shall allocate the costs of the same between the parties.</span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049918Normal"><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049918000002"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" class="s2049918Normal"><span class="s2049918SCL">Source:</span><span xml:space="preserve" class="s2049918SCL-000003"> SL 2014, ch 122, § 3.</span></p></div></body></html>