Mediation

In mediation, an impartial third party called the mediator guides the parties to resolve their differences in an informal and confidential negotiation. Mediation is voluntary and can address a wide variety of issues, including:

• How to manage changes in the family after separation
• Termination of employment
• Poor communication on a work team
• How siblings will deal with a parent’s estate

If the matter is already filed in court, mediation can help parties create a settlement at any time before going to trial. In most cases, settlement before a trial works better for parties because it saves time, money, and stress.

Mediation also works before an action in court has been filed. In fact, mediation can be an effective to avoid the time commitment and expense of taking a matter to court.

The mediator does not take sides and does not impose a settlement. The mediator encourages and facilitates the parties to come to a mutually agreeable solution.