When you're involved in a civil dispute, sometimes there's no choice but to resolve the matter in court. However, this avenue often is time-consuming and expensive, and it typically destroys the relationship between you and the opposing party. Fortunately, mediation can help you avoid many of these unpleasant outcomes and achieve your legal goals.

Mediation offers several advantages over litigation, including:

• A Salvaged Relationship: Many parties in civil disagreements, such as divorcing couples, business partners, and neighbors, need to preserve their relationship with the other party. Because mediation is a collaborative process, each person is encouraged to set aside past grievances and seek common ground. In many cases, a mediated outcome will allow you to achieve your desired goal while continuing to parent, work, or live alongside the people with whom you have a civil dispute.

• Increased Satisfaction: When civil cases go to court, there often is a clear winner and loser, meaning you have no control over the outcome and even might receive nothing. Mediation, on the other hand, involves direct participation from every stakeholder, so you will achieve at least some of your legal goals. Negotiating the outcome rather than seeking a judgment in your favor usually leads to higher satisfaction with the result, especially when you have the guidance of a skilled attorney.

• Significant Savings: Mediation typically is a faster process than litigating your case, and this results in lower attorney's fees and other legal costs. The savings can be significant, especially if you consider the expense of losing your case in court.

Founded in 2000, Williams, Hall & Latherow, LLP in Ashland, KY, has a reputation for providing individualized service and highly effective legal representation in a variety of practice areas, including mediation. To learn more about their broad range of legal services and schedule a consultation with an attorney, visit the law firm’s website or call (606) 329-1919.