Mediation

Bastrop County Dispute Resolution Services chooses mediation exclusively as the procedure of choice for alternative dispute resolutions. Alternative to litigation in court that is.

Litigation in court with judge and jury, attorneys and fees is one, expensive and very public, way to go to resolve disputes. Arbitration is another involving someone deciding for you based on the facts presented to them. Usually these are binding on both parties. Mediation brings disputing parties together with an impartial facilitator, a mediator, to explore their conflict and empowers them to discover a mutually acceptable resolution.

Mediators assist in defining the issues, help the opposing parties consider each other’s perspective, encourage disputants to listen and talk to each other, generate constructive options and guide the conversation toward a mutually acceptable resolution. This can be done separately or together in complete confidentiality.

Unlike binding arbitration and litigation, the mediation parties retain the power to make informed decisions and voluntarily develop their own agreement. If a dispute is not successfully settled or the resolution breaks down later, the disputants retain the right of using formal court remedies.

Our clients are ordered by a judge to mediate their differences. They then return to the judge with their agreement and it must be, and is usually, approved. This saves considerable time and expense for the disputing parties since they don't have to wait months or years to get on the docket and attorneys are not required to, although may, be present. Our fees are reasonable and fall under a sliding scale depending on the income level of those who need dispute resolution assistance.

Call or contact us for more information or to get started on your dispute resolution. Please see our Rules For Mediation to find out more specifics about our procedures and your protections.