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Landlord and tenant disputes are often slippery slopes of small issues that turn into larger ones.  What often begins as a simple failure to communicate properly can quickly escalate into distrust, misplaced blame and lawsuits that could cost more time and money than they are worth—both for the landlord and the tenant.

This is why mediation as a forum for resolving landlord /tenant disputes is usually so successful.  In many of these types of disputes, when communication is facilitated by a neutral, third party, the problem becomes less complicated than it seemed at the onset and the parties in dispute can come to an agreeable solution that will work for everyone involved.  When both sides are able to “hear each other out” and realize the reason for the miscommunication or point of contention, they are often in a better position to make a mutually respectful decision that keeps everyone happy—all without having to deal with the courts!

In landlord/ tenant mediation, a mediator who is usually an attorney well-versed in rental property law will hear all sides of the issue and facilitate a meeting between all parties involved in the dispute.  In this meeting, the mediator will guide the disputants toward a mutually beneficial goal of reaching a resolution.  The parties involved in mediation remain in full control of the proceedings, and if a resolution cannot be reached, they are free to continue to seek other avenues such as arbitration and litigation.

In many cases, however, landlord/ tenant disputes can be resolved quickly and cheaply through mediation.  Not only does mediation allow the parties to save time and money in reaching a resolution—it also provides a forum in which they can maintain a positive relationship for future business dealings.  As opposed to the bitterness and resentment that can often result from litigation, mediation provides a safe, respectful, environment that encourages communication and cooperation.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / freedigitalphotos.net

Adoption is an amazing opportunity for individuals or couples who are unable to have children of their own, or who want to be a family to a child (or children) who don’t have one.  In most cases, the adoption process can happen smoothly without the need for professional legal assistance; however, for some situations, particularly circumstances of “open adoption,” this is not always the case.

Open adoption is when the child’s birth parents are known to the adoptive parents.  While the legal rights of the birth parents are usually terminated, there are other issues to be resolved such as the frequency and length of visitation, the amount of contact between the birth parents and child, and the amount of information about the child to be exchanged.  Mediation, as a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR), is a great forum for resolving these issues related to adoption, and more.

Particularly in cases of open adoption or foster children who are later adopted, mediation can be a helpful way to resolve issues that have arisen in the past and might still arise in the future.  Through the process of mediation with a neutral, third-party legal expert who is well-versed in adoption law, the child’s adopted parents can work together in a respectful, meaningful dialogue with the child’s biological parents to ensure that the best possible outcome for the child is maintained in the adoption proceedings.

Adoption mediation is a way to peacefully resolve any issues that could potentially arise in the adoption process and assists all parties involved (including the child being adopted) in maintaining a cooperative relationship throughout the process.  If this cooperative relationship fails, a full-scale legal battle could land everyone involved in a lengthy and expensive litigation process—something that should be avoided if at all possible.