The mediator shall be compensated at the rate agreed between the mediator and the parties if the mediator is chosen by agreement. If the mediator is appointed by the court, the fee for the mediator shall be no greater than the mediator's standard rate as a mediator. Unless otherwise agreed by the parties or ordered by the court, the parties shall equally divide the mediator's professional fees.
Rule 99.06.Mediator compensation.
Current through June 18, 2026 · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThe mediator is paid at an agreed rate when chosen by the parties, or no more than the mediator's standard rate when court-appointed, and the parties split the fee equally unless they agree otherwise or the court orders a different split.
Full Text of Rule 99.06
Amendment History
(Adopted January 14, 2022, effective February 1, 2022.) KENTUCKY RULES ANNOTATED Copyright © 2026 by Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. a member of the LexisNexis Group. All rights reserved
Plain-English Summary
How much the mediator earns depends on how the mediator got the job. If the parties picked the mediator themselves, they negotiate the rate directly with the mediator. If the court appointed the mediator, the fee cannot exceed what that mediator normally charges for mediation work.
Either way, the parties split the cost equally unless they agree to divide it differently or the court orders another arrangement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who pays for the mediator in a Kentucky civil case?
Under CR 99.06 the parties split the mediator's professional fees equally, unless they agree otherwise or the court orders a different split.
How much can a court-appointed mediator charge?
No more than the mediator's standard rate for mediation services, under CR 99.06.
Can the parties negotiate the mediator's fee?
Yes. If the parties chose the mediator by agreement, they set the rate directly with the mediator under CR 99.06.
Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Kentucky Rules of Civil Procedure (Ky. R. Civ. P. 99.06). Prescribed by the Supreme Court of Kentucky (Ky. Const. § 116). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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