When the government of the Republic of China moved to Taiwan, the Ministry of Justice drafted a statute governing mediation which was completed in 1955. It was then endorsed by the Legislative Yuan and promulgated by the President. In fact, the office of mediator can be traced back to the Chou dynasty (1122-249 B.C.
後來，中華民國政府播遷來台以後，司法部為了加強發揮調解會的調解功能，在民國四十四年擬訂了「鄉鎮調解條例」，經立法院審議通過，由總統公佈實施，從此鄉鎮調解業務有了立法的依據。