A Mediation Success Story

At the Center for Dispute Settlement, we continue to strive for peaceful dispute resolutions, and one of our main approaches to this is through mediation. Whether its community, custody & visitation or divorce mediation we want to help come to an agreement. So here is one of our many success stories of resolution through mediation.

A couple came into mediation in August 2018 as a C&V walk-in client and came to an agreement after mediating for 3 ½ hours. According to the Respondent, soon after that, the agreement fell apart. The petitioner filed in family court and both parties retained attorneys at the advance retainer fee of $3,000 a piece. The court process began and after several court appearances, the couple decided to return to mediation in November 2018. They were not a court referral from beginning to end. They were walk-in clients- the first time because they had heard about the Center for Dispute Settlement from family members and the second time because they had already had the mediation experience and had determined after being in the court process for several months, that mediation was a much better option.

The Respondent relayed that the court system had created a much higher anxiety within and between the parties. They also knew the likelihood of the judge’ decision may not be what either of them wanted. Their attorneys were costing them significant amounts money, that both agreed could have been put toward a savings account for their daughter. They also thought that their attorneys were not hearing them or representing what they wanted.

In mediation at their second session, they created an agreement that was flexible and both were comfortable with, all within an hour. Both parties agreed that mediation was much friendlier and helpful than court, far more cost-efficient and plan to use mediation as a first alternative to court in the future. They liked that they were able to create a plan that worked for both of them and have the option of having their agreement be a working document as their future changes. We were able to get their court information, send copies of their agreement to their attorneys and provide the courts with the court order and their agreement, the same day as their agreement was created.

We love hearing what people have to say about mediation. Have you ever considered or wanted to become a part of what the Center for Dispute Settlement does? Take a look at our becoming a mediator program today!