Full Answer
A mediator does not decide the case or impose a result. Instead, they shuttle between the parties, explore each side's interests, reality-test positions, and help craft a settlement both sides can accept.
Mediation is private, fast (usually a single day), and far cheaper than trial. Most courts now require mediation in family and civil cases before setting a trial date. Even cases that do not settle at mediation often settle in the weeks afterward.
You should always attend mediation with your own attorney. Your lawyer protects your rights, evaluates settlement proposals, and drafts the binding settlement document at the end of a productive session.
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