Mediation
Family and Community Mediation
Mediation gives everyone a structured conversation with a neutral third person in the room. We are not there to decide who is right. We are there to help you reach an agreement you can both live with, and to stop the dispute from becoming permanent.
What we mediate
— Estate and inheritance disagreements between siblings or relatives
— Elder care decisions and caregiving responsibilities
— Property lines, shared access, noise and neighbour disputes
— Adult family conflict after divorce, remarriage or a death
— Disagreements inside small organisations, boards and community groups
How a session works
We start with a short intake call with each party separately, so nobody walks in cold. The joint session normally runs two to three hours. Everyone gets uninterrupted time to say what the problem looks like from where they sit, and then we work through the specific decisions that need making.
Anything agreed can be written up as a memorandum of understanding on the day. If you need it made legally binding, you take that document to your attorney.
What it costs
Mediation is billed hourly and split between the parties unless you agree otherwise. It is a fraction of the cost of two attorneys and a court calendar. Call 218.249.0595 for current rates.
FAQ
Common questions
Is mediation confidential?
Yes. What is said in mediation stays in mediation, with the usual legal exceptions around safety and abuse. It is not on the public record the way a court filing is.
What if we do not reach agreement?
Then you have lost a few hours, not a year. Nothing is binding unless everyone signs it, and you keep every legal option you started with.
Do we have to be in the same room?
No. If it would help, we can run the session with the parties in separate rooms and the mediator moving between you.
You can usually be seen this week
Depending on availability we offer same-day or next-day appointments. There is no long waitlist and no referral required for most plans.