The Illinois Order of Referral To Private Mediation (RPM) is an agreement between two parties to mediate a dispute with a neutral third party. It is a voluntary and confidential process in which the parties attempt to resolve their dispute through the help of a neutral mediator. RPM is typically used for civil court cases in the State of Illinois, including family, real estate, and contract disputes. RPM is available in two types: a standing order of referral and a private order of referral. A standing order of referral is issued automatically when a case is filed with the court, and it applies to all civil cases in the court. A private order of referral is an agreement between two parties that is filed with the court in order to voluntarily refer their dispute to mediation. This order must be signed by both parties, and it is typically used in cases where a standing order of referral has not been issued. The RPM process typically begins when the parties or their attorneys submit a completed Private Order of Referral to the court. The court then approves the order and assigns a neutral mediator to the case. The mediator will then contact the parties to set up a time and place for the mediation session. During the session, the mediator will help the parties reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached, the parties may return to court.