AB 2789: Mediation: child custody and visitation.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

Existing law requires the court, for purposes of deciding custody, to determine the best interests of the child based on certain factors, including the nature and amount of contact with both parents and, consistent with specified findings, requires the court’s primary concern to be the health, safety, and welfare of the child. Existing law requires a court to set the contested issues for mediation when it appears on the face of a petition, application, or other pleading to obtain or modify a temporary or permanent custody or visitation order that custody, visitation, or both are contested. Existing law requires notice of mediation to be given to each party, and where a stepparent or grandparent seeks visitation rights, to the stepparent or grandparent seeking visitation rights, to each parent of the child, and to each parent’s counsel of record. Existing law requires notice to be given by certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the last known address.

This bill would require all parties to be given written notice of mediation, including, among others, by court staff when all parties are present for a court hearing. The bill would require the court to develop a notice of mediation that includes that all communications between the mediator and the disputing parties are required to be confidential and, if there has been a history of domestic violence between the parties or a protective order is in effect, that the mediator is required to meet with the parties separately and at separate times at the request of the party alleging domestic violence, as specified.

Sponsors

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. August 22, 2026Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 118, Statutes of 2026.
2. August 22, 2026Approved by the Governor.
3. August 10, 2026Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 1 p.m.
4. August 3, 2026Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6031.).
5. June 25, 2026In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
6. June 25, 2026Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 36. Noes 0. Page 5015.).
7. June 23, 2026Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
8. June 22, 2026From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
9. June 11, 2026Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
10. June 10, 2026From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9).
11. May 27, 2026Referred to Com. on JUD.
12. May 14, 2026In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.