Rice Law Offers Certified Mediation Services.

Mediation involves amicably resolving disputes with the help of a neutral go-between to reach a legally binding agreement.  North Carolina sometimes makes mediation mandatory for parties before they can take their dispute to court. Mediation allows parties to:

• Settle the terms of their dispute in a way that best meets their needs;
• Faster resolution;
• Allows innovative ways to address issues that a court may not normally order;
• Avoid the publicity of private facts in a public forum;
• Reduce the acrimony that may result from testimony between parties/spouses;
• Reduce your risk from an unexpected court decision; and
• Save the costs of litigation, expert witnesses, attorney fees, and other costs.

At Rice Law, our firm offers affordable mediation services for family law and superior court matters.  Mark Spencer Williams has been certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as a Certified Family Financial Mediator and a Superior Court Mediator.  Richard Kern has been certified by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission as Certified Family Financial Mediator.  Both attorneys have been practicing family law and civil litigation for their entire legal careers and are prepared to help you through this trying time.

How Does Civil Mediation Work in North Carolina?

Mediation is often required before going to court and if there is active litigation, it may result in a Mediated Settlement Agreement often signed off on by a Judge making it a court order.  However, when the parties decide to utilize mediation, a court order is not required to resolve family disputes, business conflicts, or contractual disagreements. Instead, parties can elect to have a private decision-making process in which an impartial facilitator agreed upon by both parties helps the parties reach informed resolutions to legal issues such as child custody, child support, marital property division, contract disputes, or other disputes.

Topics that our North Carolina mediation attorney can handle in private mediation include:

• Parenting
• Child support
• Alimony
• Grandparent visitation
• The division of assets
• Allocation of debts
• Breach of contract
• Debt disputes
• Alienation of Affection (Superior Court)
• Criminal Conversation (Superior Court)
• Other Superior Court claims such as personal injury, auto accidents, etc. (Superior Court)

While a judge has the authority to order disputing parties to attend mediation, any agreements made during mediation must be made voluntarily. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, they will go back to court, where a judge will decide the case.

What Is a Mediator’s Role in North Carolina Family Law?

Mediation is governed by North Carolina General Statute § 7A-38.1 and the rules applied by various courts. The statute specifies issues, selection of the mediator, the timing and location of mediation, the fees involved, and mediator duties.  The mediator is a neutral person who acts to encourage and facilitate a resolution of a pending civil action. A mediator does not make an award or render a judgment as to the merits of the action.  A mediator is not an arbitrator.

Contact Us to Schedule Your Mediation

If you need a qualified mediator for a family law or civil dispute in North Carolina, Rice Law can help guide you through finding the best possible solution to settle your conflict.

Our dedicated private mediators routinely conduct virtual mediations where the parties and their attorneys may participate remotely and also travels throughout North Carolina to help you with mediation. Call us at (910) 762-3854 or contact us to schedule one of our mediators or reserve a mediation conference location.