DeKalb County Magistrate Court provides a Mediation Program to you as a free, easy, and convenient way to resolve your dispute from your computer or mobile device.
The Mediation Program is a Zoom based mediation tool provided by the Court. The process is like in-person mediation but offers the added benefit of mediating at a time and place that is convenient for you.
Mediation is an informal and non-adversarial process for parties and/or their attorneys to discuss and hopefully resolve their dispute with the assistance of a mediator. The mediator, a neutral third-party, guides the discussion but has no authority to decide the case. Mediators also do not provide legal or financial advice.
DeKalb County Magistrate Court entered into a collaboration with John Marshall Law students to allow students who are certified mediators to facilitate the mediations. Students are able to put their skills to the test under the supervision of the Court Administrator, a certified and skilled mediator. Additionally, students who have not yet received their Mediation certification are allowed to observe.
Mediations are held twice a month on Fridays. Parties enrolled in Mediation will receive a notification letter informing them of the time and date of their mediation as well as the Zoom link to mediation. On the mediation Friday, parties will login to the Zoom link and silence their device. The judge will take attendance and the Court Administrator will assign mediators at random to breakout rooms. Each Party will have a designated breakout room. If an agreement is reached, Parties have the option to draft the Consent Agreement. The Agreement must be sent to the parties or their attorneys to review and sign electronically, and then will be sent to the judge to review and sign. Agreements signed by the judge are filed with the Court, sent to the parties and/or their attorneys, and the case is closed. If no agreement is reached, the case will be placed on a calendar for a hearing.
Parties with Small Claims are automatically enrolled in mediation. Parties are encouraged to make good faith efforts to resolve their disputes before the trial process.
If you do not have an email account, visit one of the following sites to create one:
Hours of Operation
8:30 am until 5:00 pm
Monday through Friday
Except Holidays
Contact Us
Clerk’s Office: 404-371-2261
Civil Division: 404-371-2261
Criminal Division: 404-294-2150
Ordinance Division: 404-294-2175
Diversion Court: 404-371-2241
Marshal’s Office: 404-371-2930
Locations
Clerk’s Office
DeKalb County Courthouse
Administration Tower
556 N. McDonough Street
2nd Floor
Decatur, GA 30030
Civil Matters
DeKalb County Courthouse
Administration Tower
556 N. McDonough Street,
2nd Floor, Room 230
Decatur, GA 30030
Criminal Matters
3630 Camp Circle
Decatur, Georgia 30032
Ordinance Matters
3630 Camp Circle
Decatur, Georgia 30032
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