EARLY NEUTRAL EVALUATION

If you are contemplating ADR but are unsure of committing to the process, early neutral evaluation (ENE) could be a good first step. In this process, we will present your dispute to a neutral evaluator who will assess each side of the case and give an assessment of the merits. At this stage, you may decide to come to a settlement based on this assessment, but if not, the neutral evaluator can assist in narrowing the dispute down to a few key areas and suggest a guideline for next steps.

This process is useful for families with disputes regarding child custody and parenting plans but can also be used regarding financial matters. Our firm has had great successes using this technique, as our family law attorney has been trained as an early neutral evaluator. Call our Buffalo, Minnesota law office at 763-999-7499 if you would like to learn more about this process.

MEDIATION

Mediation can be entered into at any stage in the early process of your divorce, before deciding to take your case before a judge. Whereas ENE provides participants with an evaluation of your case, mediation is the means by which you and your former partner can go through the decision-making process in an attempt to reach a legal agreement.

A certified mediator will facilitate the discussion between the parties involved in the dispute, but unlike a judge will not make decisions on anyone’s behalf. During this process it is important to have a lawyer present in order to ensure your interests are represented and that you are not pushed into an agreement that neglects your rights. If a decision is not made during mediation, each aspect of the case can be taken before a judge, at which point your ability to negotiate is eliminated.

ARBITRATION

Arbitration is a process by which a neutral third-party renders a binding decision in a legal dispute. For parties engaged in legal disputes, arbitration can offer significant time and cost savings compared to a trial by the courts.

Although the arbitration process shares much in common with court trials, including the presentation of evidence, discovery, sworn witness testimony and oral arguments, arbitration differs from court in that it is typically:

• More flexible

• Less formal

• Private and confidential

• Faster

• Simpler in its procedural rules

At Halvorson Legal, our qualified neutrals are skilled arbitrators with significant experience in a broad range of legal areas such as insurance coverage issues, personal injury suits, family law disputes and business disputes of all kinds.