CHOOSING MEDIATION

Mediation has been proven to reduce conflict and result in long-lasting, workable agreements. Whether a divorce, civil, business, or workplace conflict those in dispute maintain a sense of control over the outcome of the proceedings, and as a result have a vested interest in reaching a solution in a quick and cost-effective manner.

As a form of dispute resolution, it is an efficient and effective process designed to assist people reach the best solution for them when disagreements arise. A trained professional mediator facilitates the information gathering process and focuses the parties on the issues to be resolved in order to achieve the best agreement possible.

In most cases, mediation is the most sensible choice whenever disagreements arise – including business, civil, divorce, child custody, or workplace conflicts. Whether it is to determine the terms of a divorce settlement, to agree on the terms of a contract, or address a workplace conflict – mediation will avoid the stress of litigation, save everyone money, and help put the struggle of disagreement behind you as quickly and peacefully as possible.

Agreements reached through mediation are legally binding and more thoughtful and tailored to the specific circumstances, not doled out by a judge or other third party who does not understand the intricacies of a specific situation. As a result, the adherence rate to mediated agreements is much higher that that of adherence to court orders.

Why is Mediation More Effective?

• By mediating, you have the opportunity to create an agreement that meets the unique needs and desires of all parties.
• You can fully discuss different ideas before agreeing on the final resolution – no one is pressed to make a quick decision.
• Mediation focuses on the personal interests of those involved in the dispute or issue and not the emotional positions to build the shared agreements.
• All parties voluntarily agree to the final resolution – no one is pressed to agree by the mediator. If there is no agreement, there is no resolution.
• You are in control of the final decision, not lawyers or judges.
• The mediator builds on areas of agreement to resolve the ongoing conflicts.

Why is Mediation Less Expensive?

• It is faster than litigation.
• It is significantly more efficient and direct than the legal system. Mediation builds on areas of agreement, no matter how small, versus areas of conflict.
• Most people come to mediation willing to work on the issues and reach a resolution – resolution starts at the initial meeting.
• Rather than speaking through attorneys, the parties, who are directly impacted by the dispute, engage in direct focused communication that is facilitated by the mediator.
• One mediator is selected versus separate attorneys. Additionally, the total costs of a mediator are generally significantly less than the fees of one attorney for the same service.