THE PROCESS:

You can call the Mediation Center any time, or you may be referred to us by the police or sheriff, county or city government agencies, the court, or your lawyer. Perhaps a friend or neighbor may suggest you try mediation. In any case, when you call a case developer will talk to you about your problem, determine whether it is the type of conflict we can help with, and answer any questions about the process.

If you decide that mediation is right for you, we will contact the other parties involved to tell them how the mediation process works and determine their willingness to participate.

If all parties agree to participate in mediation, a session will be scheduled at a convenient time and place for all.

At the session, a panel of impartial mediators will listen to all sides of the dispute and assist you and the other parties in talking it through. The mediators will not decide who is right or wrong, take sides, or impose solutions, but will assist you in finding a solution that best meets the needs of all the parties involved.

When a verbal agreement is reached, one of the mediators can write the terms out for you and the other parties to sign if you wish. If all are willing, the agreement can be made legally binding so that it can be enforceable in court.