What is Mediation?

Mediation is a process by which parties to a disagreement resolve their dispute using a neutral third party referred to as the mediator. Mediation is a voluntary process. Parties are not required to participate and the mediator will not force the parties to reach an agreement. Mediation works best when all the parties to the dispute come to the mediation table with the intention of working in good faith to resolve their issues.

As stated above, mediation is a voluntary process, and many parties choose mediation as an alternative before instituting any legal proceedings. However, more and more frequently parties to lawsuits are being ordered to mediation by the courts. Family court, foreclosure proceedings, and many other civil and even some criminal matters are ordered to mediation. Mediation works to decrease crowded court dockets. The cost benefits of mediation are enjoyed by the parties to the suit as well as taxpayers.

Benefits of Mediation

• Less Expensive than Court
  • No Attorney’s Fees
  • No Court Costs/Filing Fees
  • No lost wages due to repeated court appearances
• Privacy
  • Mediation is Confidential
  • Court Cases are a Matter of Public Record
• Control
  • Parties Decide What Will be discussed in Mediation
  • Parties Decide When the Mediation will take place
  • Paries Decide the Duration of the Mediation
  • Parties Decide What the Resolution will be
• Fewer Limitations
  • Courts Results are Limited by the Law
  • Mediation Results Limited Only by the Parties’ Creativity
  • Courts Can Only Address those Rights and Remedies Created by the Law
  • Mediation Can Address the Parties’ Needs and Relationships
  • In court, a judge names a winner and a loser
  • Our mediator is non-judgmental and helps parties to a win-win solution