Corey Shapiro Divorce Attorney + Strategist

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End Of Litigation: Med Arb?

Litigation often causes people to make choices that injure their reputations and leave them open to public judgment. See Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard for a recent example. 

In med-arb, litigation becomes obsolete for most people. Combining mediation with arbitration is the increasingly popular answer to how to resolve divorce issues in a private, cost-effective, and timely manner. 

Since med-arb is confidential, there isn't a public YouTube video of your life or litigation. 

Divorce Med-Arb benefits: 

  • Solution Focused 

    Med-arb starts with solution-focused mediation that aims to bring the parties to resolutions that both agree on. If mediation is unsuccessful after a few sessions, it will be turned into an arbitration, where the mediator makes the final decision on unresolved issues.  

  • Private and Confidential 

    The courts are public. Mediation and arbitration is a private, confidential process. Time Savings.

  • Divorce litigation time is measured in years. Med-arb is measured in months.  

  • Virtual Option 

    Med-arb is often conducted virtually, while litigation is in person. 

  • Cost-Savings 

    Historically, divorce lawyers have charged hourly fees in litigation because of the unpredictable nature of the court system. Med-arb is a more predictable process than litigation, with less formality. As a result, lawyers may be more open to moving away from the hourly billing model and offering value-based solutions by providing flat fees per mediation session or arbitration hearing. 

If you are looking for privacy, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in your divorce, ask about the med-arb process. It’s not right for everyone, but it may be the solution that works best for you.