Can I Use A Mediator In Arizona For Actions Other Than Divorces?

While divorce mediation gets a lot of attention, mediation is a great way to resolve any dispute.

Within the family law realm, people use mediation to resolve:

• Paternity actions (where unmarried people have children and want to define custody, parental access and support issues);

• Modification actions (where people want to modify child support, custody, parental access schedules, spousal maintenance, property division or debt division);

• Grandparent or non-parent actions (where a non-parent wants access or custody of a child);

• Domestic partnership disputes (where people who have lived together but where never married divide assets and debts);

• Prenuptial agreements (where people who are going to get married want to define the terms of their marriage and/or potential divorce);

• Postnuptial agreements (where married couples want to define the terms of their marriage and/or potential divorce);

• General family disputes (where family members are fighting, and want to peacefully resolve their conflicts with the aid of a trained neutral).

Outside the family law realm, people use mediation to resolve lawsuits, potential lawsuits or simple conflicts.  It is used in employment matters, between businesses, between a business and a consumer, between neighbors and even with government entities.

Mediation is a great way to resolve conflicts without lawyers (unless you want to use lawyers), courtrooms and judges.  The parties make their own agreements with the aid of a mediator, who is trained in conflict resolution.  When people agree to mediation, they reach full and binding agreements approximately 90 percent of the time.   Mediation is confidential, much less expensive and much less time consuming and stressful than litigation.

Please feel free to call me if you would like more information about mediation.

Alona M. Gottfried is a family law mediator, general mediator and attorney in Arizona.  If you have questions about mediation, she can be reached at: 480-998-1500 or alona@sglawaz.com.  This is a general interest article only and is not intended to be legal advice.  See a legal professional before making legal decisions.

Simmons & Gottfried, PLLC
8160 E. Butherus Dr., Suite #7
Scottsdale, AZ 85260