Mediation

As a certified Family Mediator, Iris Bass's role is quite different from her role as an attorney. She is bound by law and principle to take a neutral ground. In her capacity as Family Mediator, her function is to assist individuals to resolve their own issues.

What is Mediation?

Mediation is a non-adversarial form of alternative dispute resolution that permits parties to resolve issues without resorting to the necessity of trial. A neutral party, the mediator, facilitates resolution by enabling each side the opportunity to become aware of the needs, capabilities and concerns of the other. Mediation increases the likelihood of a workable compromise to which both parties are committed and it also provides the individuals with a more comfortable way to close a marital relationship, an often neglected task in divorce.

The mediator neither dictates a resolution nor attempts to pressure the other side to agreement. The goals of mediation are:

	To help the parties reach their own agreement by fully exploring all choices.
	To avoid the need for court-imposed decisions, which often is more emotionally and financially draining to the parties.
	To assist the parties in understanding the terms of their agreement and future impact of that agreement.
	To provide the parties' with basis to handle future disputes by empowering them to provide solutions tailored to their own specific needs.

Mediation does not require that the parties have counsel; however, the mediator as a "neutral" cannot advise either party that an offer is a good one or beneficial one. If the parties attend mediation without attorneys, they are strongly advised that each have an attorney review any proposed agreement before signing it.

Mediation attempts to prepare the parties to anticipate, work through and resolve disagreements that might arise, and, most importantly, to reduce anxiety and the uncertainty of going to court to have a judge make all decision.

Iris's mediation firm is called "AGREE Mediation". The letters stand for "A Good Resolution Evolves Equitably".