Litigation (whether it's probate, guardianship, landlord-tenant, or other contested matters) is, at the very least, stressful. One way to alleviate some of the stress is for parties to participate in an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process, such as mediation.

 

Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party, the mediator, facilitates communication between parties to promote a resolution of the problem or disagreement. Some important points about this process include: 

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• The mediator is a neutral third party.

• Mediators do not give legal advice; nor do they make recommendations for resolution.

• Mediators guide the parties into identifying the issues in dispute and help the parties identify areas in which they have a common ground.

• Mediators encourage joint problem-solving and help the parties explore settlement alternatives without going to trial.

• Experts, for example, CPAs, child psychologists and others, who can give valuable information to the opposing parties, may be called in to a mediation session to give advice.

• The process is totally confidential. If mediation breaks down, with only a few exceptions, the mediator cannot be called as a witness at a later trial.

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Each of our attorneys is Certified Mediators. Their office is designed with mediations in mind and can accommodate multiple parties, attorneys, and even experts if needed.