When people are in conflict, a number of emotions can be experienced:

Anger Revenge Pain Loss Numbness

Panic Betrayal Injured Pride Fear Devastation

These emotions are normal. However, overwhelming emotions can impair your ability to make sound decisions that may affect the rest of your life. You can do something about it.

WHY MEDIATION?

YOU GAIN CONTROL

By choosing MEDIATION you are more likely to end up with a settlement that you can live with because...

1. You control negotiations directly with the other side rather than relying on third party interpretation or communication for

    you.

2. Your mediator guides you to resources that enable you to make well-informed decisions.

3. Your mediator has a network of other professionals to help you with legal questions, real estate, financial, tax and even

    emotional support decisions.

4. MEDIATION lets you, not others, control the pace, costs and cash-flow during the process.

(98% of ACCORD clients successfully reach a settlement)

YOU MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS

When it is likely that you will have some form of relationship with the other person, such as the father or mother of your children, or a co-worker or supervisor, choosing MEDIATION enables you to...

1. Reduce the possibility of prolonged anger toward the other person.

2. Cooperatively deal with financial links between you and the other person for many years down the road, such as

    power-of-attorney, child support payments, settlement agreements, or pensions.

3. Face the other person during family events or work-related meetings.

4. Be role models for your children, colleagues or employees.

5. Be more creative with settlement agreements than if you were to behave as adversaries.

Ideally, with both parties in mediation, a business-like relationship can evolve that serves to reduce the stress for all who are involved and results in agreements that are more easily adhered to.

YOU SAVE TIME

The average contested case involving litigation takes 1 to 2 years to complete. Many take much longer. That is a long time to endure a highly stressful situation.

HOWEVER...

For most matters, such as an uncontested divorce, the mediation process can be completed in weeks. For less complicated matters, issues can be resolved in days.

1. You and the other party are negotiating face-to-face rather than waiting for others to advocate and negotiate for you.

2. 95 % of mediated matters never end up in the courtroom. There is a 90% compliance rate with mediated cases.

3. Mediated agreements are generally accepted by the courts as they normally reflect the agreements of both parties.

4. In mediation, the agenda is spelled out to both parties and everyone receives the same information at the same time.

YOU SAVE MONEY

The first rule of any legal battle is that it costs a lot of money to fight. Mediation may not eliminate the need for attorneys but it does put the bulk of the workload into your hands. As a result, you can save considerable money. By working cooperatively, both parties can actually come out ahead.

DURING THE MEDIATION PROCESS, PARTICIPANTS:

     •  Discuss areas of concern
     •  Consider each other’s point of view
     •  Explore options
     •  Agree on solutions that are realistic and long-lasting

Whether your matter involves family issues such as reconciliation or divorce, elder care arrangements or guardianship, or financial issues such as personal injury matters, home construction disputes, or business partnership conflicts, mediation offers several features:

     •  Clients engage in a joint, cooperative problem-solving process at their own pace
     •  A neutral mediator helps parties negotiate a resolution or settlement that is equitable and realistic
     •  Generally, the mediation cases are scheduled very quickly and resolution is reached in a reasonable timeline
     •  ACCORD clients have access to resources and a referral network in the areas of law, real estate, taxes and finance,
         and counseling
     •   At conclusion, clients have a written summary of their negotiated decisions called a Memorandum of Understanding          (MOU), which is converted into a legally binding contract, if applicable to their case.

Rather than adversarial methods or avoidance tactics, mediation provides several benefits:

     •  It helps to keep line of communication open, especially when parties are likely to continue some degree of relationship          with each other
     •  It is very affordable
     •  It can help resolve issues quickly
     •  It empowers participants to make their own decisions
     •  It is confidential

Common Matters for Mediation

For additional information on mediation visit our website at accordmediates.com