Mediation may be thought of as “assisted negotiation.” Negotiation may be thought of as “communications for agreement.” Hence, meditation is assisted communications for agreement.

Most people want to avoid the time, expense and uncertainty of trial. Further to that, and also serving as an appealing fact, is that mediation is YOUR process. Accordingly, decisions are made by you. In fact, mediation is the only forum in which you (and your attorney) have complete control over decision making.


Some key qualities of the Mediation process are as follows:

• Voluntary: You can leave at any time for any reason, or no reason.
• Collaborative: You are encouraged to work together to solve your problem(s) and to reach what you perceive to be your best agreement.
• Controlled: You have complete decision-making power and a veto over each and every provision of any mediated agreement. Nothing can be imposed on you.
• Confidential: Mediation is confidential to the extent you desire and agree, be that by statute, contract, rules of evidence or privilege. Mediation discussions and all materials developed for a mediation are not admissible in any subsequent court or other contested proceeding, except for a finalized and signed mediated agreement. Your mediator is obligated to describe any exceptions to this general confidentiality of mediation. Confidentiality in mediation may be waived in writing, although the mediator may retain his or her own ability to refuse to testify in any contested case. The extent of confidentiality of any “caucus meetings” (meetings between the mediator and individual parties) should also be defined.
• Informed: The mediation process offers a full opportunity to obtain and incorporate legal and other expert information and advice. Mutually acceptable experts can be retained. Expert advice is never determinative in mediation. The parties always retain decision-making power. Mediators are bound to encourage parties to obtain legal counsel and to advise them to have any mediated agreement involving legal issues reviewed by independent legal counsel prior to signing. Whether legal advice is sough is, ultimately, a decision of each mediation participant.
• Neutrality: The mediator has an equal and balanced responsibility to assist each mediating party and cannot favor the interests of any on party over another, nor should the mediator favor a particular result in the mediation. Your mediator is ethically obligated to acknowledge any substantive bias on substantive issues in discussion. The mediator’s role is to ensure that parties reach agreements in a voluntary and informed manner, and not as a result of coercion or intimidation.
• Self-Responsible & Satisfying: Based upon having actively resolved your own conflict, participant satisfaction, likelihood of compliance and self-esteem are found by research to be dramatically elevated through mediation.

Let our attorney certified mediators help you reach a resolution and settlement that you can be happy with and proud of!