Adalbert Conflict Consulting

In hard economic times, many people feel stuck in unhappy marriages because there is no money for attorneys. Luckily, there is another option available. Mediation is a cost-effective alternative to using attorneys in a dissolution process. In some cases, a mediator can cost less than half the rate of separate lawyers! Most importantly, YOU retain the control over your situation! Don't leave your future to a judge to decide or attorneys to squabble over -- you can create a plan that works because you know what's most important to you. Give yourself the gift of closure and peace of mind with a mediated dissolution agreement.

What about the kids? Trying to work out a parenting plan with the other parent can be very difficult during a divorce. There may not be much trust in each other and your emotions can be very high. But what you decide now can affect the children for years to come. Mediation can be less adversarial than attorneys because the parents can decide what will work best based on past experience -- not a rigid guideline written by a state agency. You can be creative in your agreements so that everyone walks away knowing that the best interests of everyone (including the children) were met.

 Is your current parenting plan more than four years old? Chances are it may need updating to accommodate changes in school situations, children's needs and interests, and your own life situation. In mediation, you can make changes to one small aspect of the parenting plan or rewrite the entire plan. The decision is yours. Child support cannot be mediated.

Small Claims Court can be time-consuming, tedious, and the rulings can be unpredictable. If you get a judgment in your favor, there is no guarantee that you will collect your money. If the judge rules against you, the judgment can affect your credit rating for years to come. Mediation offers you the opportunity to be creative in your solution to the problem. Payment plans, exchange of good or services, or simple apologies can be created that are successful in getting both parties what they need.

Landlord/tenant mediations can help in many different situations from payment plans for back rent to agreements on apartment repairs and improvements. Schedule a mediation to explore the possibilities to resolve these issues in a way that is 'doable' for everyone.

Homeowners Associations have the responsibility of enforcing HOA guidelines, yet this can be very time consuming for the individuals representing the Association. Try mediation as an early and affordable alternative to litigation.