Mediation Services
What is mediation?
Mediation is a confidential and voluntary process for resolving conflict and creating agreements. Mediation can help people resolve their disputes and plan for their future in a cooperative rather than a combative way. Mediation is time and cost efficient compared to other forms of dispute resolution. The parties meet on neutral ground with trained, impartial facilitators who guide the parties through the process of moving forward.
What happens in mediation?
Listening and Information Sharing: Parties state what they wish to accomplish in mediation and their views and positions, expressing both facts and feelings. The mediators ensure all parties have the opportunity to express themselves without interruption.
Identifying the Issues: The mediators then assist the parties in identifying specific issues they wish to work on and what interests they may have in common.
Brainstorming Options: With the assistance of the mediators, the parties begin to generate options for resolving each of the issues. All ideas are accepted, without evaluating at this time.
Resolution/Agreement: The parties evaluate each option, aimed at reaching mutual agreement on a resolution that reflects their common interest. Mediators do reality (“what if?”) testing and help the parties construct the agreement in their own words. After the final session, the mediators will write the agreement and transmit it to the parties.
• The parties control the outcome, most often producing a “win-win” result.
• Agreements are crafted in a few days, avoiding long court delays.
• Costs are just a fraction of most legal fees, potentially saving thousands of dollars.
• The process preserves and rebuilds trust and relationships between parties who will continue to have a common interest; e.g., parents of a child, or customers/clients.
How much will it cost?
There is a flat fee of $600 that includes up to three hours per session and the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that the parties or their attorneys can use to prepare the appropriate documents for entry by the court . This fee is normally split equally between the parties, $300 each. Occasionally more than three hours is needed.
If you need or prefer an evening or weekend appointment, they can be scheduled upon request for an additional $100 fee, or $700 total.
If mediation sounds like a good fit for your situation, please reach out to me to get more information or to schedule a session.