Approved Mediators

Find a court-approved mediator in South Dakota by circuit for effective conflict resolution in family law and other matters. Also learn how to become a mediator in the state.

About Mediators

Mediators are neutral professionals trained to help disputing parties resolve conflicts, typically related to family law issues such as custody, parenting time, child support and divorce-related matters. The mediator facilitates discussions, promotes communication and helps the parties reach mutually acceptable agreements without taking sides or making decisions for them.

Find Out If You Need Mediation

Learn How to Become a Mediator

How to Become a Mediator

To become an approved mediator in South Dakota, individuals must complete and submit the Mediator Application Form to the circuit administrator in their respective judicial circuit.

Access Mediator Application Find a Circuit Administrator

The application requires detailed information, including:

  1. Professional Background: Degrees, certifications, areas of specialization, years of experience and specialized training.
  2. Professional Employment History: A comprehensive disclosure of all professional roles, both within and outside the field of mediation.
  3. Mediation Training: Details of pertinent training sessions, seminars or workshops attended.
  4. Mediation Experience: The number of mediations conducted, along with approximate dates.
  5. Mediation Methods: Descriptions of mediation techniques employed and the typical duration of sessions.
  6. Fee Structure: An explanation of how fees and costs are determined for a standard mediation.
  7. Payment Terms: The requirements for fee payment, typically due upon completion of mediation.

Applicants must affirm their commitment to adhere to the principles and guidelines established in the Uniform Mediation Act, as promulgated by the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Once the application is completed, it should be submitted to the circuit administrator of the relevant circuit for approval by the presiding circuit judge. Upon approval, the mediator will be listed among the following court-approved mediators in South Dakota.

Following are the South Dakota Codified Laws which pertain to mediation. 

  • 25-4-56 — Custody and visitation disputes--Mediation order--Exceptions--Investigation--Allocation of costs.
  • 25-4-57 — Court appointment of mediator.
  • 25-4-58 — Adoption of court rules establishing minimum qualifications of mediator.
  • 25-4-58.1 — Minimum qualifications for family court mediators.
  • 25-4-58.2 — Conduct of Family Court Mediators.
  • 25-4-59 — Privacy of mediation proceedings.
  • 25-4-60 — Confidentiality of mediation communications and mediator's work product.
  • 25-4-61 —Written mediated agreement--Signing--Court approval.
  • 25-4-62 — Recommendation by mediator to court upon parties' failure to agree.

First Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Brenda Schulte
42139 SD Hwy. 38
Alexandria, SD 57311
Brooke Swier Schloss
Swier Law Firm, Prof. LLC
PO Box 256
Avon, SD 57315
Carol J. Whitehill
PO Box 1326
Sioux City, IA 51102
Chloe Jefferies, J.D.
Deborah J. Cook
Deborah J. Cook Law Firm
401 Douglas Street, Suite 108
Sioux City, IA 51104
Doug Cummings
Cummings Mediation Services, LLC
913 South Nicholas
Brandon, SD 57005
Erin Trefz
Resolutions Counseling & Mediation
6116 South Lyncrest Avenue, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Heather LaCroix
PO Box 632
806 Belfast
Yankton, South Dakota 57078

LaCroix Law Office

Jamie Damon
PO Box 1115
115 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Attorney at Law
Certified Mediator

Katie Johnson
PO Box 136
106 East Main Street
Beresford, SD 57004

Attorney at Law

Keith Halvorson
236 Drees Drive
Yankton, SD 57078
Kelly Kanaan
Bangs, McCullen, Butler, Foye & Simmons, LLP
PO Box 2670
Rapid City, SD 57709
Kimberly Cournoyer, EdS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Recourse Solutions Sioux Empire, LLC
629 South Minnesota Avenue #203
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Telehealth Options

Marilyn Trefz
Redwood Mediation Services, LLC
23 West Main Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Michele Lewon
705 Douglas Street
Suite 402
Sioux City, IA 51101
Mike Thompson
1101 West 22nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Robert Klimisch
PO Box 708
311 West Third Street
Yankton, SD 57078
Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
Sabrina Sayler
711 Sioux Point Road
Suite 200
Dakota Dunes, SD 57049
Shanna M. Moke, MA, CFLE
Resolutions, LLC
6116 Lyncrest Avenue South, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Parenting Resolution Specialist

Tara Volesky
313 Tiger Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
Tim D. Tucker
614 North Egan Avenue
Madison, SD 57042
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Velma J. Larson
PO Box 235
Volin, SD 57072
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201

Second Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Beth Kelsey
Community Counsel Services
357 Kansas SE
Huron, SD 57350
Doug Cummings
Cummings Mediation Services, LLC
913 South Nicholas
Brandon, SD 57005
Erin Trefz
Resolutions Counseling & Mediation
6116 South Lyncrest Avenue, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Jamie Damon
PO Box 1115
115 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Attorney at Law
Certified Mediator

Katie Johnson
PO Box 136
106 East Main Street
Beresford, SD 57004

Attorney at Law

Kimberly Cournoyer, EdS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Recourse Solutions Sioux Empire, LLC
629 South Minnesota Avenue #203
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Telehealth Options

Marilyn Trefz
Redwood Mediation Services, LLC
23 West Main Street
Vermillion, SD 57069
Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
Shanna M. Moke, MA, CFLE
Resolutions, LLC
6116 Lyncrest Avenue South, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Parenting Resolution Specialist

Shari B. Langner
Langner Law Firm, Prof. LLC
300 North Dakota Avenue, Suite 301
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Stacy M. Johnson
Richardson Law Firm
PO Box 1030, One Court Street
Aberdeen, SD 57402
Stephanie R. Amiotte
Amiotte Law PC
5032 South Bur Oak Place, Suite 205
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Third Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Chloe Jefferies, J.D.
Christian D. Jensen
Conflict Resolution and Mediation Center
1301 4th Street NE
Watertown, SD 57201
David J. Jencks
121 North Egan Avenue
Madison, SD 57042
Doug Cummings
Cummings Mediation Services, LLC
913 South Nicholas
Brandon, SD 57005
Erin Trefz
Resolutions Counseling & Mediation
6116 South Lyncrest Avenue, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Jamie Damon
PO Box 1115
115 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Attorney at Law
Certified Mediator

Jean M. Larson
570 Madison Boulevard
Huron, SD 57350
Jessica M. Karpinske
Jodi Lynn Brown
Brown Law Firm, P.C.
103 South Main Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Kelly Kanaan
Bangs, McCullen, Butler, Foye & Simmons, LLP
PO Box 2670
Rapid City, SD 57709
Kimberly Cournoyer, EdS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Recourse Solutions Sioux Empire, LLC
629 South Minnesota Avenue #203
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Telehealth Options

Lori Ann Redlinger
4600 20th Avenue SW
Watertown, SD 57201

(Seeman)

Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Mike Thompson
1101 West 22nd Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57105
Pamela Davis
Conflict Resolution & Mediation of SD
1301 4th Street NE
Watertown, SD 57201
Rachael Lenzmeier Jencks
PO Box 442
121 North Egan
Madison, SD 57042
Rita Olson
1727 Teton Pass
Brookings, SD 57006
Robert Spears
2711 Airhaven Road
Watertown, SD 57201
Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
Ronald R. Frauenshuh, Jr.
1301 4th Street NE
Watertown, SD 57201
Shanna M. Moke, MA, CFLE
Resolutions, LLC
6116 Lyncrest Avenue South, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Parenting Resolution Specialist

Stacy M. Johnson
Richardson Law Firm
PO Box 1030, One Court Street
Aberdeen, SD 57402
Tara Volesky
313 Tiger Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201

Fourth Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Amber Mesecher
On Belay Mediation
11062 RW Ranch Road
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Barbara J. Donat
Mediation Matters
115 North 7th Street, Suite 2
Spearfish, SD 57783
Chloe Jefferies, J.D.
Debra D. Watson
Watson Law Office, P.C.
804 West Boulevard
Rapid City, SD 57701

Phone: 605-348-8147
Fax: 605-348-8767
Email: debatlaw@rushmore.com

Dr. Max A. Morse, LPC, LPC-MH, QMHP
1010 Soo San Drive
Suite 102
Rapid City, SD 57702
Gordon D. Swanson
Williams Law, P.C.
4956 5th Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Kellen B. Willert, Esq.
Bennett Main Gubbrud & Willert, P.C.
618 State Street
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Kylie M. Riggins
Riggins Family Law
902 Columbus Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
Melanie Torno, MS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Torno Mediation & Mental Health Services
324 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 202
Rapid City, SD 57717
Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Merton B. Tice, Jr.
4020 Jackson Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57702
Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201
Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
Ronda Miller
PO Box 66
513 Grant Street
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Stacy L. Keyser, LPC - MH - NCC
Rapid City Counselors
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Tara Volesky
313 Tiger Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
Terri Lee Williams
Williams Law, P.C.
4956 5th Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Thomas L. Trimble
1220 Skyline Drive
Rapid City, SD 57701
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Fifth Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Chloe Jefferies, J.D.
Deborah Elhard
PO Box 235
Ellendale, ND 58436
Erin Trefz
Resolutions Counseling & Mediation
6116 South Lyncrest Avenue, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Jamie Damon
PO Box 1115
115 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Attorney at Law
Certified Mediator

Jodi Lynn Brown
Brown Law Firm, P.C.
103 South Main Street
Aberdeen, SD 57401
Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Rhonda A. Deutsch
R.A.D. Mediation LLC
PO Box 291
Sisseton, SD 57262

Zoom option available

Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
Ron Roehr
210 South Viola Street
Milbank, SD 57252
Ronald R. Frauenshuh, Jr.
1301 4th Street NE
Watertown, SD 57201
Stacy M. Johnson
Richardson Law Firm
PO Box 1030, One Court Street
Aberdeen, SD 57402
Thomas J. Linngren
PO Box 1600
Watertown, SD 57201-1600
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201
Wanette Lenling
Lenling Law Office, Prof.L.L.C.
308 5th Ave
Claremont, SD 57432
William D. Gerdes
PO Box 73
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0073

Sixth Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Amber Mesecher
On Belay Mediation
11062 RW Ranch Road
Belle Fourche, SD 57717
Edward S. Hruska, III
Bachand & Hruska, P.C.
206 West Missouri Avenue, PO Box 1174
Pierre, SD 57501
Erin Trefz
Resolutions Counseling & Mediation
6116 South Lyncrest Avenue, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Gordon D. Swanson
Williams Law, P.C.
4956 5th Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Heide R. Moeffenbier-Kuhlman
420 Tenth Street NW
Watertown, SD 57201
Jamie Damon
PO Box 1115
115 East Sioux Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Attorney at Law
Certified Mediator

Kimberly Cournoyer, EdS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Recourse Solutions Sioux Empire, LLC
629 South Minnesota Avenue #203
Sioux Falls, SD 57104

Telehealth Options

Kylie M. Riggins
Riggins Family Law
902 Columbus Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
Laura C. Rowe
Rowe Law and Mediation
1205 North Harrison Avenue, Suite 202
Pierre, SD 57501
Melissa E. Neville
305 6th Avenue SE
PO Box 970
Aberdeen, SD 57402-0970
Robin M. Eich
Eich Law Office, Prof. LLC
700 North Vandemark Avenue, Suite 108
Hartford, SD 57033
RoseAnn Wendell
2520 East Franklin Street
Pierre, SD 57501
Shanna M. Moke, MA, CFLE
Resolutions, LLC
6116 Lyncrest Avenue South, Suite 103
Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Parenting Resolution Specialist

Stacy M. Johnson
Richardson Law Firm
PO Box 1030, One Court Street
Aberdeen, SD 57402
Stephanie R. Amiotte
Amiotte Law PC
5032 South Bur Oak Place, Suite 205
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Tara Volesky
313 Tiger Street
Mitchell, SD 57301
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Victoria M. Duehr
Duehr Mediation and Family Law, P.C.
PO Box 87983
Sioux Falls, SD 57109

Attorney at Law

Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201

Seventh Circuit Mediators

Name
Address
Contact
Comment
Barbara J. Donat
Mediation Matters
115 North 7th Street, Suite 2
Spearfish, SD 57783
Chloe Jefferies, J.D.
Danielle Finn, CSW-PIP
D&F Consulting and Mediation Services
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Debra Hughes, CLSW-PIP
2040 West Main Street
Suite 214
Rapid City, SD 57702
Gina Fiferman, MA, NCCFC
15014 East Centre Street
Suite 200
Rapid City, SD 57703
Gordon D. Swanson
Williams Law, P.C.
4956 5th Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Kyle Krause
909 Saint Joseph Street
Suite 800
Rapid City, SD 57701
Kylie M. Riggins
Riggins Family Law
902 Columbus Street
Rapid City, SD 57701
Leslie A. Fiferman, Ph.D., NCCFC
15014 East Centre Street
Suite 200
Rapid City, SD 57703
Lorie Melone
Black Hills Mediation and Law
1107 Mt. Rushmore Road, Suite 3A
Rapid City, SD 57701
Melanie Torno, MS, LPC-MH, QMHP
Torno Mediation & Mental Health Services
324 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 202
Rapid City, SD 57717
Stephanie R. Amiotte
Amiotte Law PC
5032 South Bur Oak Place, Suite 205
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Terri Lee Williams
Williams Law, P.C.
4956 5th Street, Suite 201
Rapid City, SD 57701
Thomas L. Trimble
1220 Skyline Drive
Rapid City, SD 57701
Tina Marie Wildberger, MA
Quest Mediate, LLC.
909 Saint Joseph Street, Suite 201B
Rapid City, SD 57701
Vincent A. Foley
Foley and Foley Law Office, P.C.
PO Box 845, 22 East Kemp
Watertown, SD 57201