Overview of Mediation
As part of my holistic approach to family law, I have developed a mediation practice and am a trained mediator. Lots of people have heard of mediation but are not always clear about what that really is. In a nutshell, mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that is flexible and confidential. The process works by disputing parties going to a neutral third party, the mediator, who utilizes various techniques or skills to facilitate dialogue between the parties and helps them resolve their conflict. The mediator cannot give legal advice or make a binding decision on the dispute, and the process is confidential, so the parties are free to be creative and maintain control over their dispute and how it is resolved. Mediation can be used before a lawsuit is filed and is an effective tool to head off litigation and to settle a dispute before it becomes a major issue, saving the parties time, money, stress, and risk.
Mediation applies not only to family law situations, but also to a variety of other situations, such as disputes between employees and employers, organizations such as small businesses and churches, retail and consumers, real estate deals, etc. Basically, anytime there is a dispute, mediation can offer a solution. And because a mediator cannot give legal advice, the mediator does not need special training in the area in which he or she mediates, although some parties may prefer that the mediator is trained in a particular field.
So, if any of you have a legal matter involving family dynamics, such as a divorce, custody dispute, child support, adoption, wills, or guardianships, or if you have a conflict that you would like mediated, or you would just like to learn more about mediation, give me a call.
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