A way to avoid court. Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution, which uses a trained mediator as a facilitator to help parties clearly define areas of conflict, explore options and reach mutually agreeable conflict resolution.
Designed for parties who have not retained legal representation. Although some mediators include attorneys as participants in the mediation, our mediation process is designed for people who are not represented by attorneys. This is sometimes referred to as pro se mediations. Even though attorneys do not attend our mediation sessions, we still encourage mediation participants to seek legal advice prior to beginning the mediation process, on an as-needed basis during the mediation process, and prior to finalizing any settlement.
Private and discreet. The terms agreed to in mediation will be provided to the participants only. The mediator will not disclose any information to anyone else, without the participant’s consent.
Customized timeline for proceeding at your own pace. Each mediation session typically last about two hours. Before the session adjourns, the mediator and the participants will schedule the next session for a time that fits everyone’s schedule. The number of sessions required to reach resolution on all issues will depend on the number of issues to be addressed and the complexity of the issues.
Pay as you go. The mediator’s fee of $200.00 per hour will be paid at the end of each session and will include any time the mediator spent reviewing documents, preparing summaries, talking to the participants, etc., between sessions. A one-time administrative fee of $175.00 will be added to the first invoice.
Saturday sessions available upon request. Mediation sessions are generally conducted during normal business hours, however, for those participants for whom that would be a hardship, Saturday sessions are available.
Zoom or in person sessions, whichever you prefer. In person sessions will be conducted at the mediator’s office. Covid protocols will be observed and if anyone has been exposed to Covid or has experienced any Covid-like symptoms in the past 14 days, the session will be conducted on Zoom.
The Fine Print: In North Carolina, mediators are not permitted to draft settlement documents. At the end of your mediation process, a memorandum of the terms you agreed to in mediation will be provided for you to take to an attorney of your choice for the preparation of a legally binding contract. Mediators, even those mediators who are also licensed attorneys, are not permitted to give legal advice to mediation participants. You will be encouraged to consult with an attorney of your choice to answer any questions regarding the relevant law and regarding the legal implications of terms you are considering.
Call 919.836.8076 to schedule a complimentary 20-minute orientation to determine if mediation is appropriate for your situation.