Should you Choose a Mediator with Property Law Experience?

If you are mediating a property law case, should you choose a mediator with property law experience?  I may be biased, but my answer is “yes”!  Read on to find out why.

Mediation is a great tool to resolve disputes, particularly property law disputes.  Setting aside time for the parties (by choice or by force of court) to focus on solving their issues is helpful.  Moreover, many property disputes occur over narrow legal issues.  The judge will decide only those issues, and the decision may not resolve the real problems between the parties.  Mediation, on the other hand, can address and resolve anything the parties want to solve.

A mediator with property law experience is valuable for three reasons.  First, the mediator can thoroughly understand the law involved in the case.  A mediator does not make legal rulings or pick sides, but a mediator needs to understand the issues to assist the parties in evaluating the merits of their case.  Second, the mediator can assist the parties in processing their priorities and emotions.  In my career I’ve realized that residential property in Michigan is always emotional.  Understanding those emotions, and helping parties process their desires, motivations, and priorities, is one of my key skills in mediation.  Third, the mediator can assist the attorneys and parties in creating solutions to their issues.  The mediator may have legal solutions to offer.  Or, when an agreement in principle has been reached, the mediator may be able to assist the attorneys in thinking of details and procedures to make the agreement as comprehensive and legally proper as possible.

If you are looking for a mediator who has experience with property law, feel free to contact me.  I’ve mediated dozens of property law disputes, and I’d be happy to help you.  I offer mediation by zoom, so I can mediate cases all over Michigan.