Mediation is an alternative dispute resolution wherein the parties, with the help of a mediator, can retain more control over the outcome of their legal dispute without the expense, time commitment and adversarial nature of traditional court proceedings.

Before embarking on your first mediation session, there are four simple steps that you can utilize to make your mediation effective and as stress-free as possible.

Identify your mediation goals

First, identify your goals. Ask yourself, “what am I looking to achieve by entering mediation?” Be specific as possible with your answer: the more specific your answer is, the better you will be able to prepare the information needed to achieve that goal. For instance, during a divorce mediation, your goal might be to divide assets and debts as equally as possible. Having a specific goal helps you to come up with a specific plan of action: “to get a divorce” is overly broad, and therefore, not a workable goal.

Gather information that supports your goal

Continuing our example, a goal of dividing assets and debts needs to be supported by documentation. With that goal in mind, you can now gather important information such as tax returns, bank statements, and other financial documents, that help to facilitate that goal.

Pre-determine potential areas of compromise

Your next step after reviewing the documentation you have collected is to identify potential areas of the dispute before having your first mediation session. Are there areas that you can compromise on, or could propose a potential compromise to, that would be agreeable to both parties? To have an effective mediation, each party has to be willing to compromise on some issues: determining which areas you are open to compromise before the mediation allows you to handle those issues quickly at the beginning, saving you time and money.

Initiate the mediation process by selecting a mediator

Selecting the right mediator for your dispute is a crucial step in having an effective mediation. The mediator should be a licensed attorney who is experienced in mediation, and familiar with the local courts and applicable laws. Your mediator should be able to answer your questions thoroughly and help guide you through the overall mediation process.

By following these four easy steps, you can be confident that your mediation will both resolve the legal dispute in question while saving you time and money.

If you are a New York resident who is seeking an experienced mediator, the Law Offices of Stacy Sabatini, Esq., located in New City, New York, proudly serves mediation clients in Rockland, Orange and Westchester counties. To obtain a consultation, please call (845)-243-0295 or visit www.sskfamilylaw.com.