Mediation helps you resolve legal issues without losing your wallet, or your sanity.

If you have ever participated in a lawsuit or survived a divorce, you are all too aware of the tremendous expense and emotional stress involved. Litigation can cost you thousands of dollars and several months, or even years of your life. Additionally, the emotional damage caused to every person involved can be irreparable. Fortunately, you have a choice when faced with difficult legal issues. Mediation is an affordable alternative to litigation that allows you to take control of your legal dispute without losing control of your finances.

What is Mediation?

During the last 15 years, mediation has grown into one of the most popular alternatives for resolving civil disputes in the United States. Many lawyers, insurance companies, risk managers and legal departments now use mediation on a day-to-day basis to help resolve claims and litigation as quickly and efficiently as possible.

At a mediation session, the disputing parties meet with an impartial person, the mediator, to attempt to reach a mutually acceptable settlement. There are no formal court procedures or rules of evidence, although careful pre-mediation preparation and organization are crucial to a successful mediation outcome. Unlike a judge or arbitrator, the mediator has no authority to render a decision or force the parties to accept a settlement. Yet in the great majority of cases, the training and ability of a professional mediator can help achieve a final settlement of the matter which would not otherwise be possible.

Benefits of Mediation

Everyday, consumers are realizing the benefits of mediation. Mediation saves you time, money and aggravation. It gives parties greater control over the outcome of their dispute and provides an effective setting for resolving difficult legal issues. Mediation is:

• Confidential - Mediation proceedings are completely confidential. Unlike the court system, your personal information will not be made available to the public. Many consumers fail to realize that once you file a lawsuit your personal information becomes public record.
•  Affordable - Mediation can cost considerably less than litigation. Parties normally split the cost of a mediator making the hourly rate more cost effective. Also, most mediators do not require parties to pay a retainer fee to schedule a mediation session.
• Convenient - Mediation sessions can be scheduled quickly and conveniently. Sessions can be scheduled during the day or night, and even on weekends. The mediator works around your schedule and can even meet with parties separately or by phone if necessary.
• Amicable- Mediation is a fair and impartial process. The goal of mediation is not to defeat the other party, but to find a solution with the assistance of a trained professional. By utilizing mediation, you are choosing to address a problem in a healthy and mature way that opens lines of communication. This helps to preserve both personal and professional relationships.
• Successful - Mediation resolves over 85% of disputes. Historically, the overwhelming majority of cases involved in the mediation process settle before going to trial.

Mediation is a process where you decide the outcome of your dispute and determine the terms of your agreement. It is an empowering forum where you get to make the decisions. It is also an opportunity for parties to discuss their issues openly with the reassurance that their communication will remain private and within their control. Finally, if you are unable to resolve your dispute you can always choose to litigate the matter later. Therefore, you have nothing to lose.