Overview
At Eris Law Group, we believe that litigation isn’t always the answer. Mediation offers a constructive, cost-effective alternative that empowers you to maintain control over the outcome of your dispute. Our experienced mediators guide parties through difficult conversations toward mutually beneficial solutions.
What Is Mediation?
Mediation is a voluntary process where a neutral third party—the mediator—facilitates communication between disputing parties to help them reach their own agreement. Unlike a judge or arbitrator, a mediator doesn’t impose a decision. Instead, they create a safe space for open dialogue, help identify common ground, and guide parties toward solutions that work for everyone involved.
Why Choose Mediation?
Cost-Effective: Mediation typically costs a fraction of what you’d spend on litigation, saving you thousands in legal fees and court costs.
Faster Resolution: While court cases can drag on for years, mediation sessions can often resolve disputes in a matter of months or even weeks.
Maintain Control: You decide the outcome rather than leaving your fate in the hands of a judge or jury. This leads to solutions tailored to your unique situation.
Preserve Relationships: The collaborative nature of mediation helps maintain personal and professional relationships that adversarial litigation often destroys.
Confidential Process: Unlike public court proceedings, mediation discussions remain private and confidential, protecting your reputation and sensitive information.
Higher Satisfaction: Studies show that parties who reach mediated agreements report higher satisfaction rates and are more likely to comply with the terms.
Our Process:
The Mediation Process
- Initial Consultation: We begin by meeting with the parties jointly to understand the issues in dispute, assess whether mediation is appropriate, and explain the process. Our mediators offer individual sessions but do not require them. The parties can agree on a case by case basis how to pay for individual sessions. We do ask that you confirm how payment will be made for mediation at the time services are retained.
- Areas for Mediation: Parties can decide to mediate all issues in a divorce or limited issues. For example, frequently parties mediate custody but reach a resolution on financial issues through other means. Also, parties sometimes resolve most, but not all financial issues and wish to mediation single issues such as: spousal support or sale of the marital home individually.
- Preparation: Parties should be prepared to provide a full financial disclosure as part of the mediation process. Our mediators may provide guidelines to help you prepare for productive discussions.
- Mediation Sessions: Parties should be prepared to provide a full financial disclosure as part of the mediation process. Our mediators may provide guidelines to help you prepare for productive discussions.
- Agreement: When parties reach consensus, our mediators can draft the appropriate agreement resolving the matter in dispute, for example a custody agreement, parenting plan, or full marital settlement agreement.
- Follow-Up: We remain available to address questions and, if needed, assist with implementation of the agreement.
- Divorce Filing: As our mediators serve as independent third-party neutrals our offices cannot file the divorce pleadings for you in the relevant Court. We can provide you to referrals to finalize the documents at the appropriate time.
Meet Our Attorneys
What Makes Our Mediators Different
Our mediators bring extensive legal experience and mediation training specific to family law dispute resolution. We understand the law, recognize power imbalances, and know how to guide difficult conversations toward productive outcomes. We’re not just facilitators—we’re experienced attorneys who can help parties understand the legal implications of their choices while respecting their autonomy to make those choices.
Trusted. Recognized. Respected.
Is Mediation Right for You?
Mediation works best when both parties are willing to negotiate in good faith and are open to compromise. It may not be appropriate in cases involving domestic violence, significant power imbalances, or when one party refuses to participate meaningfully. During your consultation, we’ll help you determine whether mediation is the right approach for your situation.