About Mediation

Benefits of Mediation | Is Mediation Right For You?

Mediation is a process where a neutral third party acts as an intermediary to assist parties to a dispute reach a mutually acceptable agreement. Mediation is solutions-based and goal-oriented. It is less expensive and less time-consuming than litigation. Mediation is a voluntary, non-binding, and confidential process. The Mediator is an independent third party; s/he does not take sides and does not act as a judge. The Mediator facilitates a discussion between the parties to identify the issues, generate and evaluate potential solutions, and determine a resolution that is agreeable to all parties. The parties are in full control of the resolution. If an agreement cannot be reached in mediation, the parties have not forfeited any of their legal rights and can still pursue their dispute in court.

Mediation can be used to resolve almost any type of dispute. The only requirement is that the parties are willing to participate in discussions with the goal of resolving the dispute. Because mediation is non-adversarial, it is particularly valuable when there is an on-going relationship between the parties, e.g., co-parents, client/vendor, and employer/employee. In general, there are no formal rules to mediation. Accordingly, the parties are encouraged to develop creative and thorough resolutions that not only focus on the present, but address the future as well.

Benefits of Mediation

• Quicker and More Efficient than Going to Court
• Cost Effective
• Results in Fair and Satisfying Resolutions
• Voluntary and Non-Binding
• Confidential
• Amicable and Dignified
• Preserves Current Relationships
• More Flexible and Less Formal than Court
• Addresses the Present and Future
• Alleviates the Burden from the Legal System

Is Mediation Right For You?

Mediation is a non-adversarial, quicker, and less expensive alternative to going to court to settle a dispute. It is a versatile process that can be used to resolve almost any issue. Mediation is commonly used to settle disputes that arise in business (e.g., contract disputes, workers’ compensation, workplace disputes), family matters (e.g., divorce, child custody, and probate), and interpersonal disputes (e.g., personal injury, relationships, and pre-marital issues).

To determine whether mediation is the right approach for you, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Am I motivated to resolve the dispute?
2. Do I want to settle the dispute quickly and efficiently?
3. Do I want to spend less money on legal representation?
4. Do I want to determine the outcome?
5. Do I need to have a continued relationship with the other party?
6. Do I want to reserve my rights to sue in court?
7. Do I want to settle the dispute in a dignified manner?
8. Do I want the details of the dispute to remain confidential?
9. Do I think that remedies at law are inadequate to address my issues?
10. Do I want to create a lasting solution that prevents conflict from arising in the future?

If you answered ‘yes’ to one or more of the above questions, mediation may be the right process for you. To assess whether your dispute is appropriate for mediation, contact us at (910) 509-7191 or Info@AccordMediationGroup.com for a free consultation.