Community Dispute Mediations

Disputes can in any community setting. In fact, disagreements are a part of life. Sometimes, a dispute may arise over relatively benign issues. For example, sometimes there are simple misunderstandings with neighbours about the repairing of a fence, or the location of a boundary fence. Other examples might be when there is a disagreement between friends or family member. Sometimes conflict can occur in your employment or employing people in the workplace. Disputes can occur in lending money.

Mediations often a relatively less stressful alternative than court. Mediation can resolve the issue and preserve the relationship. Settling a dispute does not mean the end of a relationship. Unlike court decisions, in mediation there is not a winner and a loser. Mediations are often far less expensive. Our mediators are accredited to handle all sorts of community disputes. Contact us for a no obligation free initial consultation and we can discuss your circumstances to see if mediation is appropriate for you.

Mediation services are:
• Low cost
• quick
• convenient
• voluntary
• confidential

What is Community Mediation?
Community Mediation is an informal dispute resolution process. Although, we use tried and tested methods to take the parties through the mediation process, mediation is considered an informal process. This is because mediation is not usually considered a legally binding agreement. Of course, mediation agreements can be taken to court and requested that the agreement be a consent order which will be legally binding

Mediation is a process where the parties in a dispute can come together and talk about issues that are in dispute. The role of the mediator is to facilitate the discussion and to assist the participants to talk about ways that they are prepared to resolve their issues. The mediator will endeavour to assist the parties reach, and to document the agreement.

Mediators are impartial. Our mediators are properly qualified and accredited to mediate your dispute. Generally, our mediators are lawyers. Although, our mediators cannot provide legal advice to mediation participants, our mediators are expert in facilitating the mediation and helping you reach agreements. Hence, mediators will never do not take sides, and they will not make decisions about your dispute. The mediator is there to ensure that all parties are heard, feel safe to speak their mind, and are provided an equal opportunity to resolve the dispute wherever possible

Some of the types of mediation disputes that we can assist mediate include:
• neighbour dispute mediation
• community or association dispute mediation
• financial matters mediations
• family dispute mediations
• inheritance and estate dispute mediations
• schools dispute mediations
• workplace dispute mediations
• business dispute mediations
• other dispute mediations.

If you are seeking community mediation services, please contact us so that we can provide a no cost, no obligation initial consultation.
The Steps are as follows:

Step One – Call and talk to us. We will discuss the mediation process, and ask you some questions about your dispute. This will assist us decide whether mediation is suitable for you. This is no cost to you.

Step Two – Because in most situations, mediations are voluntary we can only hold a mediation if the other party agrees. Therefore, after our initial consultation we will need to hold an intake session to ensure that all parties agree to move forward with mediation, and that we can confirm a convenient time, date, and venue for attendees to attend the mediation. If a party does not agree to mediate we can discuss with you our other services and how we might assist you.

Step Three – The parties to the dispute meet with one or two of our mediators. Our mediators will explain the mediation process, and will allow each party opportunity to outline any issues without being interrupted. Our mediators allow all parties to raise and discuss the issues that are important to them, and then assist you generate different options for resolving the dispute. During the mediation our mediators will meet with each party in private as well so that you can be assured that our mediators will endeavour to make certain you have been heard. This is also a time for all parties to contemplate reaching an agreement and what that agreement might look like. Generally, only a single mediation is required to resolve your issues; however, for complex matters, it may require a second session which we will arrange with the parties.

Step Four – If the parties do reach consent, then our mediators will assist with the documenting of your agreements. In about 80 per cent of mediations, an agreement can be reached. Mediation provides an informal and safe environment where parties can feel more comfortable and resolve their differences without court.