Dissolution and Family Law:
Divorce cases in California for over forty years have been submitted to mediation, often with spouses jointly hiring the mediator instead of hiring separate attorneys. If needed, their agreement can be finalized by attorney consultants for filing with the court. The entire process can be much more collaborative than adversarial and will more likely result in an agreement that both spouses will honor going forward.
Business Disputes:
No one knows better the value of an early resolution than business folks. It’s not always just as simple as calculating the high cost of the alternative to reaching an agreement, but that reality check is often what brings about an agreement which can keep the job moving, keep the relationship alive, or put the matter to rest and get back to business.
Trust and Estate Matters:
These disputes can last years in the court system, with the costs exhausting the very estate and/or inheritance people are fighting over, and all the while alienating the family members from each other even more than they were at the start. Mediation can address the stumbling blocks early and often, in a confidential setting which allows the parties to identify and evaluate the issues which are most important to them.
Personal Disputes:
When the problem is too big to ignore, but too small to hire a lawyer, mediation can actually take the place of a lawsuit. It can not only bring neighbors, homeowners, contractors, real estate professionals and others together to reach an agreement, it can provide for a process for investigating the issues as well. And all at a shared cost and a timetable more efficient for those involved.