Civil Litigation Mediation

The DRC provides a safe, neutral setting for people to meet and resolve conflicts outside the court system. While we can assist in resolving any disagreement, common topics are divorce, conflict between neighbors, child support negotiations, disagreements between landlords and tenants and conflict among staff members.

Our mediators are entirely volunteers; individuals in the community who work to support people and organizations experiencing conflict. Mediators come from many different backgrounds including law, social service, business and more. All mediators have completed an intensive 40-hour training in mediation techniques. Many go on to obtain additional training in domestic mediation.

In arbitration, the arbitrator makes a decision based on the facts of the case. In mediation, the parties themselves determine the outcome.

It’s frustrating to find yourself in a conflict that you worry cannot be resolved. Heightened emotions can make it difficult for both parties to feel heard and understood, keeping the disagreement from being addressed. Our mediators are trained to facilitate communication so that each party gains a clear understanding of the issues and what it will take to resolve the dispute in a way that satisfies both.

Only a judge can decide if the agreement is legally binding. The agreement we provide is a contract stating that the involved parties have reached a resolution. They then sign that document. It is written in the participants’ own words and not in legal language. To ensure that it is legally enforceable, you will need to involve an attorney.

Agreement rates are approximately 75% with an overall client satisfaction rate of 95%. Even if the parties don’t reach an agreement, the majority of our clients say that mediation benefited them. They gain a better understanding of the conflict and the options that they have.