Common Questions About Mediation

What is Mediation?

In simplest terms, it is a process in which two parties who are in a dispute, resolve their differences through the use of a neutral party. Unlike litigation, it will not commit you to a long, bitter, costly struggle. Nor will it make adversaries of you, which would be no help at all. Rather it will provide you with a mediator, who acting as a neutral third party, will help you address all of your concerns and conflicts to a result that works for everyone involved.

How long will it take?

As we all know, going to court can take forever. In some instances, it can even take years to resolve a dispute. In mediation, it only takes a fraction of that time. For many disputes, it will be possible to reach an agreement with only three to
five sessions.

How much will it cost?

Litigation today can be prohibitively expensive. If you go to court, it is not unusual to spend tens of thousands of dollars to in order to reach a judgment. In contrast, Mediation does not cost a fortune, which is why it is becoming a more popular option for many people. In most instances, it will only be a fraction of a cost of adversarial proceedings.

What if I am unhappy with the mediation?

Unlike a judge, a mediator has no power. He (or she) has no power to make any decisions in your life.  That being the case you are free to stand up and leave at any time. Thus, you don’t have to worry that the mediation will go in a direction you won’t like. The same is not true with a legal proceeding. You may have the power to start a proceeding, but once initiated it is often difficult to stop. And once started, you usually have little or no control over the proceedings often leading to
a result you don’t want. Doesn’t it make sense to try a process where you have power and control to decide the outcome, rather than leaving it to the legal system?