The mediation service originated in the Hennepin County Probation Service, where officers conducted custody investigations beginning in 1935. In 1956 and 1957, a specialized domestic relations division was established; in 1975, the division began to provide mediation services and, in 1976 formally adopted a policy to mediate contested custody cases. Today the domestic relations division consists of a director, a supervisor, 17 family counselors, 1 child psychologist, 2 case aides, and 5 support staff. Interviews with staff counselors reveal that most are very satisfied with their work and feel as though they are helping families in a constructive manner. Mediations are conducted by individuals or teams that are organized on an ad hoc basis. The staff shares a philosophical commitment to self-determination and views mediation as a self-determination process. Most counselors identify three phases to the mediation process: (1) eliciting commitment to the process and establishing rapport, (2) identifying and discussing problems and disputes, and (3) selecting and discussing the most attractive alternatives. Of 107 clients (between July 1982 and January 1983) who were interviewed by phone and mail on three occasions, most felt mediation was preferable to court hearings. Attorneys are impressed with the process and the mental health community is very supportive of it. The appendix contains a sample mediation case. Four notes are provided.