Mediation and Arbitration

The mediation process is facilitated by a mediator, who serves as a neutral third-party and directs the settlement process. Involved parties are typically placed in separate rooms and accompanied by their attorneys, who can provide advice and guidance through the process. The mediator, who is not permitted to provide legal advice to the participants, usually travels between the two rooms to convey relevant information and help craft options for settlement. If a resolution is reached at mediation, a written agreement memorializing the terms of the agreement is signed by both parties.

Any disputed issue can be submitted to mediation.

The length of the mediation process may vary based on the dispute itself and the willingness of the participants to come to a mutually agreeable solution. A typical mediation session may last from four to eight hours or longer, and multiple sessions may be required before an agreement is reached.

In Raleigh, North Carolina, the mediation process is mandatory in cases involving child custody and equitable distribution, or claims filed in Superior Court arising out of contracts between the parties.

In mediation, participants control the outcome of the process rather than relying on a judge or jury to make a decision. This often results in quicker time to resolution and lower costs to the involved parties, as well as reducing the stress associated with litigation. Additionally, unlike public court proceedings, the mediation process is held in private and is not recorded.

If your dispute is not resolved through mediation, you have various options. You may continue with settlement negotiations with the other party. You may seek court intervention to resolve your dispute. You may agree with the other party to submit the dispute to binding arbitration.

YES. You can hire us for a limited scope. That means, we can represent you just for the mediation. We will meet with you to prepare and we will be with you throughout the mediation. Afterwards, you can decide what our role will be if there is any more work to be done.

During arbitration, an arbitrator oversees a hearing between the involved parties. During this hearing, each side has the opportunity to present his/her case and may provide witnesses and documentary evidence. After the hearing, the arbitrator will make a decision in the case and render an award. The North Carolina Family Law Arbitration Act governs the arbitration process in all issues related to marital separation or divorce.

You are not required to have an attorney during arbitration. However, if desired, you may be represented by counsel.

You may stipulate in your arbitration agreement that a decision must be made within a specified period of time, such as 90 days. North Carolina General Statute 50-51 states an award must be made within the time set in the arbitration agreement; if no timeframe was set in the agreement, the court will order an award time when the arbitration application is filed. Typically, the arbitration process takes less time than a trial in front of a judge and can be less formal.  In arbitration, several matters can be heard at one time rather than the traditional court method of hearing many issues in the case at separate trials and/or hearings.

One of the many benefits of arbitration is that you can have more control over the budget.  You can arbitrate limited or specific issues.  You can agree that the arbitration will be limited to a certain amount of time which limits attorney fees and arbitrator fees.  Usually, the parties share in the cost of the arbitrator.  The arbitrator writes the decision (known as an Award) and does so usually within 30 days of the conclusion of the arbitrator hearing.  This eliminates the squabbles between lawyers over the language and terms of an Order thus reducing your attorneys fees.  The requirement that the arbitrator issue a swift written decision reduces the delay between the end of your court hearing, the rendering of the court’s decision, the drafting of the Order, and the entry of the Order – these steps add costs to litigation which are reduced or eliminated in the arbitration process.

The arbitrator’s decision is legally binding and can only be challenged under limited circumstances. In order to do so, a motion to vacate must be made within 90 days after delivery of the decision. Additionally, motions to modify or correct an award can be filed before the expiration of 90 days after delivery of a copy of the award. Appeals may be made based on failure to comply with the process as set forth in the North Carolina Family Law Arbitration Act. If you specifically contract for the right to appeal errors of law, then you may challenge the arbitration award on those grounds as well.