Mediation

Mediation is a confidential settlement discussion between you and your spouse or other parent that utilizes a trained neutral third party to assist in trying to resolve your dispute.  In mediation, the parties control the outcome rather than a judge. The mediator cannot give legal advice to either party and does not decide who is right or wrong. Instead, the mediator facilitates reaching a compromise by listening to each party’s interests and exploring settlement options.

Parties can choose to attend mediation before going to Court or once their case is pending, and can attend with attorneys or without them. Sometimes the parties are in the same room for mediation sessions and sometimes they are in separate rooms where the mediator moves back and forth to discuss the issues and potential options for settlement.  Mediation may take up to one day or over multiple sessions depending on the complexity of the issues and ability of the parties to compromise. If a compromise is reached, an attorney drafts the settlement documents setting forth the agreement reached in mediation.  If you have a child custody case pending in North Carolina, then you are required to attend mediation.  If you have financial issues pending, then you are required to complete some form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and mediation is a commonly used option.

Hatcher Law Group Mediation Services

At Hatcher Law Group, we encourage our clients to resolve their family law matters through alternative means of dispute resolution, including mediation, whenever possible. Even when seeking an amicable resolution, dealing with legal issues affecting family life can be challenging.  We offer the following services:

  • As Advocates. Our attorneys have successfully represented clients in numerous mediations. We are trusted advocates with a strong reputation in the community and are ready to assist you.
  • As Mediators. Dan Lewis, an experienced family law attorney, is also a North Carolina Certified Family Financial Mediator and serves as a private and court-appointed mediator.  Dan has 15 years of family law experience and was initially trained in mediation in 2009.  He has significant experience with complex financial and support issues as well as high conflict custody matters.  Dan is known for his empathy for those facing family law issues, high attention to detail, and diligence in trying to resolve cases outside the courtroom whenever possible.  Above all, Dan is a creative problem solver who has the ability to work with others to find compromise on emotionally difficult family law issues.