Rule 12.080.Qualification as an Approved Domestic Relations Financial Mediator, Ongoing Obligations

Current through August 1, 2026 · Last verified September 12, 2026

In one sentenceUTCR 12.080 sets what an applicant must show to be approved as a domestic relations financial mediator, borrowing the education requirement from UTCR 12.070 and adding financial mediation training, supervised financial casework, continuing education, and malpractice coverage.

Full Text of Rule 12.080

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To become an approved domestic relations financial mediator, an individual must establish, to the satisfaction of the determining authority, that the individual meets or exceeds all the following qualifications and will continue to meet all ongoing requirements as described.

(1) Education. An applicant must meet the education requirements under UTCR 12.070 applicable to an applicant to be approved as a domestic relations custody and parenting mediator.

(2) Training. An applicant must have completed training in each of the following areas:

(a) The basic mediation curriculum in UTCR 12.100;

(b) The domestic relations custody and parenting mediation curriculum in UTCR 12.110;

(d) Court-system training in UTCR 12.130, or substantially similar training.

(3) Experience. An applicant must have completed one of the following types of experience:

(a) Participation in at least 20 cases including a total of at least 100 hours of domestic relations mediation supervised by or co-mediated with a person qualified as a domestic relations financial mediation supervisor under this section. At least 10 cases and 50 hours of the supervised cases in this paragraph must be in domestic relations financial mediation. At least three of the domestic relations financial mediation cases must have direct observation by the qualified supervisor; or

(b) At least two years full-time equivalent experience in any of the following: mediation, direct therapy or counseling experience with an emphasis on short term problem solving, or as a practicing attorney handling a domestic relations or juvenile caseload. Applicants must have:

(i) Participated as a mediator or co-mediator in a total of at least 10 cases including a total of at least 50 hours of domestic relations financial mediation; and

(ii) An understanding of court-connected domestic relations programs.

(4) Continuing education. As an ongoing obligation, an approved domestic relations financial mediator must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two calendar years, beginning January 1 of the year after the mediator’s approval by the determining authority, as described in UTCR 12.140.

(5) Conduct. An applicant and, as an ongoing obligation, an approved domestic relations financial mediator must subscribe to the mediator ethics in UTCR 12.040.

(6) Public information. An applicant and, as an ongoing obligation, an approved domestic relations financial mediator must comply with requirements to provide and maintain current information in UTCR 12.050.

(7) Insurance. As an ongoing obligation, an approved domestic relations financial mediator shall have in effect at all times the greater of:

(a) $100,000 in malpractice insurance or self-insurance with comparable coverage; or

(b) Such greater amount of coverage as the determining authority requires.

(8) Supervision. A qualified domestic relations financial mediation supervisor is an individual who has:

(a) Met the qualifications of a domestic relations financial mediator as defined in this section;

(b) Completed at least 35 domestic relations cases including a total of at least 350 hours of domestic relations financial mediation beyond the experience required in this section; and

End

Plain-English Summary

UTCR 12.080 covers approval to mediate the money side of a domestic relations case. The education requirement is borrowed whole from UTCR 12.070, so the same degrees and post-degree experience that qualify a custody and parenting mediator qualify here.

Training is longer. An applicant completes the basic mediation curriculum in UTCR 12.100, the domestic relations custody and parenting mediation curriculum in UTCR 12.110, domestic relations financial mediation training in UTCR 12.120, and court-system training in UTCR 12.130 or substantially similar training. The custody and parenting curriculum stays on the list even for a mediator who intends to handle only financial issues.

Experience follows the same shape as the custody and parenting rule, aimed at financial work. Either the applicant participates in at least 20 cases including a total of at least 100 hours of domestic relations mediation supervised by or co-mediated with a qualified domestic relations financial mediation supervisor, with at least 10 cases and 50 hours of that in financial mediation and at least three of those cases directly observed by the supervisor; or the applicant brings at least two years full-time equivalent experience in mediation, in direct therapy or counseling with an emphasis on short term problem solving, or as a practicing attorney handling a domestic relations or juvenile caseload, plus participation as mediator or co-mediator in at least 10 cases including at least 50 hours of financial mediation and an understanding of court-connected domestic relations programs.

The ongoing obligations carry an item the other qualification rules do not. Along with 24 hours of continuing education every two calendar years beginning January 1 of the year after approval, the mediator ethics in UTCR 12.040, and the public information in UTCR 12.050, an approved domestic relations financial mediator must have in effect at all times the greater of $100,000 in malpractice insurance or self-insurance with comparable coverage, or whatever larger amount the determining authority requires. A qualified supervisor at this level needs the financial mediator qualifications, at least 35 domestic relations cases including a total of at least 350 hours of financial mediation beyond the base requirement, and malpractice insurance coverage in force for the supervisory role.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need malpractice insurance to mediate financial issues in an Oregon domestic relations case?

Yes, as an ongoing obligation. An approved domestic relations financial mediator must have in effect at all times the greater of $100,000 in malpractice insurance or self-insurance with comparable coverage, or a larger amount if the determining authority requires one.

Do I have to take the custody and parenting curriculum if I only want financial cases?

Yes. UTCR 12.080(2) lists the domestic relations custody and parenting mediation curriculum in UTCR 12.110 alongside the basic mediation curriculum, the financial mediation training in UTCR 12.120, and court-system training in UTCR 12.130.

What education qualifies a domestic relations financial mediator?

The same education that qualifies a custody and parenting mediator. UTCR 12.080(1) points directly at the education requirements in UTCR 12.070, which accept several degree and experience combinations, including a law degree with family law coursework.

How much supervised financial mediation experience is required?

Either at least 20 cases totaling at least 100 hours of domestic relations mediation supervised by or co-mediated with a qualified financial mediation supervisor, with at least 10 cases and 50 hours in financial mediation and at least three of those directly observed; or at least two years full-time equivalent professional experience of the kinds the rule lists, plus at least 10 cases including at least 50 hours as mediator or co-mediator in financial mediation.

What does a domestic relations financial mediation supervisor need beyond the mediator requirements?

At least 35 domestic relations cases including a total of at least 350 hours of financial mediation beyond the experience this rule requires of a mediator, and malpractice insurance coverage in force for the supervisory role.

Source & verification. The rule text is reproduced verbatim from the official Oregon Uniform Trial Court Rules (UTCR 12.080). Prescribed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court (UTCR 1.020). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 12, 2026. · Official source

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