An increasingly large number of parties who are litigating in courts in Louisiana are using the mediation process to resolve their disputes instead of going to court. Many times, these litigants choose not to pay the costs and fees normally associated with retaining an attorney in order to “fight it out” in court. Parties usually decide to handle their issues themselves without direct representation by attorneys or
they direct their attorneys to resolve their disputes outside of court in a mediation. As a result, these litigants will usually appear before a private mediator who will work with the parties to develop a customized agreement that meet their needs. The parties will end the mediation process with a settlement agreement. This agreement can be taken to court and made part of a consent judgment if the parties are in litigation, or if no lawsuit has been filed, they will sign the agreement which becomes an enforceable agreement.

You can select a mediator of your own without initially going to court or you can go to court and the judge will appoint a mediator. If you are able to communicate effectively with your spouse or partner, you will often able to meet with a mediator for a few hours and walk away with a settlement agreement that you reach with the other party. Your ability to communicate with the other party will result in savings of hundreds or thousands of dollars and a longer lasting agreement, thus an “easy divorce”. This cooperation is better for the children of your relationship and for you and your spouse or partner.

 

Mediation has become a popular tool in the New Orleans area and in Louisiana for resolving disputes between individuals, and in families, groups, and organizations. It is a process whereby a neutral third party works with parties to a dispute to assist them in resolving their differences in a way that is agreeable to both parties. The mediation process reduces conflict between parties and helps them to communicate more effectively when they are resolving disputes and when their disputes end. Mediation allows parties to resolve personal and complex issues in private, outside the courtroom environment, without the presence of outsiders who have no interest in the dispute. When compared to litigation, which can be a costly endeavor for the parties, the mediation of disputes between private individuals, members of families, groups, or organizations saves the parties considerable time and money. The mediator is not a judge or arbitrator, but a lawyer who has been specially trained to work with parties who have relationship disputes. Our mediators provide easy solutions to our clients in Gretna, New Orleans and surrounding areas.