1. Before Mediation

Contact for Consultation, Complete Intake Forms, Read Mediaton Rules, and Pay necessary Fees:

*** Please Read and Be Prepared to Follow the  ***

RULES FOR MEDIATION  

 

DEFINITION OF MEDIATION. 

MEDIATION IS A PROCESS UNDER WHICH AN IMPARTIAL PERSON, THE  MEDIATOR, FACILITATES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN PARTIES TO PROMOTE RECONCILIATION, SETTLEMENT OR UNDERSTANDING AMONG THEM. THE MEDIATOR MAY SUGGEST WAYS OF RESOLVING THE DISPUTE, BUT  MAY NOT IMPOSE THEIR JUDGMENT ON THE ISSUES FOR THAT OF THE PARTIES.  

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO SERVING AS MEDIATOR. 

THE MEDIATOR SHALL NOT SERVE AS A MEDIATOR IN  ANY DISPUTE IN WHICH HE HAS ANY FINANCIAL OR PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE RESULT OF THE MEDIATION. BEFORE ACCEPTING AN APPOINTMENT, THE MEDIATOR SHALL DISCLOSE ANY CIRCUMSTANCE LIKELY TO  CREATE A PRESUMPTION OF BIAS OR PREVENT A PROMPT MEETING WITH THE PARTIES.  

AUTHORITY OF MEDIATOR. 

THE MEDIATOR DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ANY ISSUE FOR THE PARTIES BUT WILL ATTEMPT TO FACILITATE THE VOLUNTARY RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE BY THE PARTIES.  THE MEDIATOR IS AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT A JOINT AND SEPARATE MEETING WITH THE PARTIES AND TO  OFFER SUGGESTIONS TO ASSIST THE PARTIES ACHIEVE SETTLEMENT. IF NECESSARY, THE MEDIATOR MAY  ALSO OBTAIN EXPERT ADVICE CONCERNING TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE DISPUTE, PROVIDED THAT THE PARTIES AGREE AND ASSUME THE EXPENSES OF OBTAINING SUCH ADVICE. ARRANGEMENTS FOR OBTAINING  SUCH ADVICE SHALL BE MADE BY THE MEDIATOR OR THE PARTIES, AS THE MEDIATOR SHALL DETERMINE.  

PARTIES RESPONSIBLE FOR NEGOTIATING THEIR OWN SETTLEMENT. 

THE PARTIES UNDERSTAND THAT THE MEDIATOR WILL NOT AND CANNOT IMPOSE A SETTLEMENT IN THEIR CASE. THE MEDIATOR, AS AN ADVOCATE FOR SETTLEMENT, WILL USE EVERY EFFORT TO FACILITATE THE NEGOTIATIONS OF THE PARTIES. THE  MEDIATOR DOES NOT WARRANT OR REPRESENT THAT SETTLEMENT WILL RESULT FROM THE MEDIATION  PROCESS.  

AUTHORITY OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

PARTY REPRESENTATIVES MUST HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SETTLE AND ALL  PERSONS NECESSARY TO THE DECISION TO SETTLE SHALL BE PRESENT. THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SUCH  PERSONS SHALL BE COMMUNICATED IN WRITING TO ALL PARTIES AND THE MEDIATOR.  

TIME AND PLACE OF MEDIATION. 

THE MEDIATOR SHALL FIX THE TIME OF EACH MEDIATION SESSION. THE  MEDIATION SHALL BE HELD AT THE OFFICE OF THE MEDIATOR, OR ANY OTHER CONVENIENT LOCATION  AGREEABLE TO THE MEDIATOR AND THE PARTIES, AS THE MEDIATOR SHALL DETERMINE. 

 

IDENTIFICATION OF MATTERS IN DISPUTE. 

BEFORE THE FIRST SCHEDULED MEDIATION SESSION, EACH  PARTY SHALL PROVIDE THE MEDIATOR AND ALL ATTORNEYS OF RECORD WITH AN INFORMATION SHEET AND  REQUEST FOR MEDIATION ON THE FORM PROVIDED BY THE MEDIATOR SETTING FORTH ITS POSITION ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED. AT OR BEFORE THE FIRST SESSION, THE PARTIES WILL BE  EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ALL INFORMATION REASONABLY REQUIRED FOR THE MEDIATOR TO UNDERSTAND  THE ISSUES PRESENTED. THE MEDIATOR MAY REQUIRE ANY PARTY TO SUPPLEMENT SUCH INFORMATION.  

PRIVACY... MEDIATION SESSIONS ARE PRIVATE. 

THE PARTIES AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES MAY ATTEND  MEDIATION SESSIONS. OTHER PERSONS MAY ATTEND ONLY WITH THE PERMISSION OF THE PARTIES AND WITH  THE CONSENT OF THE MEDIATOR.  

CONFIDENTIALITY. 

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION DISCLOSED TO A MEDIATOR BY THE PARTIES OR BY  WITNESSES IN THE COURSE OF THE MEDIATION SHALL NOT BE DIVULGED BY THE MEDIATOR. ALL RECORDS,  REPORTS, OR OTHER DOCUMENTS RECEIVED BY TA MEDIATOR WHILE SERVING IN THAT CAPACITY SHALL BE  CONFIDENTIAL. THE MEDIATOR SHALL NOT BE COMPELLED TO DIVULGE SUCH RECORDS OR TO TESTIFY REGARDING THE MEDIATION IN ANY ADVERSARY PROCEEDING OR JUDICIAL FORUM. ANY PARTY THAT  VIOLATES THIS ORDER SHALL PAY ALL REASONABLE FEES AND EXPENSES OF THE MEDIATOR AND THE OTHER  PARTIES, INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS FEES, INCURRED IN OPPOSING THE EFFORTS TO COMPEL  TESTIMONY OR RECORDS FROM THE MEDIATOR.  

NO STENOGRAPHIC RECORD. 

THERE SHALL BE NO STENOGRAPHIC RECORD OF THE MEDIATION PROCESS AND  NO PERSON SHALL TAPE-RECORD ANY PORTION OF THE MEDIATION SESSION.  

NO SERVICE OF PROCESS AT OR NEAR THE SITE OF THE MEDIATION. 

NO SUBPOENAS, SUMMONS,  COMPLAINTS, CITATIONS, WRITS, OR OTHER PROCESS MAY BE SERVED UPON ANY PERSON AT OR NEAR THE SITE OF ANY MEDIATION SESSION UPON ANY PERSON ENTERING, ATTENDING, OR LEAVING THE SESSION.  

TERMINATION OF THE MEDIATION. THE MEDIATION SHALL BE TERMINATED:

A) BY THE EXECUTION OF A  SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT BY THE PARTIES; 

B) BY DECLARATION OF THE MEDIATOR TO THE EFFECT THAT  FURTHER EFFORTS AT THE MEDIATION ARE NO LONGER WORTHWHILE; OR C) AFTER THE COMPLETION OF ONE  FULL MEDIATION SESSION, BY A WRITTEN DECLARATION OF A PARTY OR PARTIES TO THE EFFECT THAT THE MEDIATION PROCEEDINGS ARE TERMINATED.  

FEES AND EXPENSES. 

THE MEDIATOR'S DAILY FEE, IF AGREED UPON BEFORE MEDIATION, SHALL BE PAID IN  ADVANCE OF EACH MEDIATION DAY. THE EXPENSES OF WITNESSES FOR EITHER SIDE SHALL BE PAID BY THE  PARTIES PRODUCING SUCH WITNESSES. ALL OTHER EXPENSES OF THE MEDIATION, INCLUDING FEES AND  EXPENSES OF THE MEDIATOR, AND THE EXPENSES OF ANY WITNESS AND THE COST OF ANY PROOFS OR EXPERT  ADVICE PRODUCED AT THE DIRECT REQUEST OF THE MEDIATOR, SHALL BE BORNE EQUALLY BY THE PARTIES  UNLESS THEY AGREE OTHERWISE.

 

 

INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF RULES. 

THE MEDIATOR SHALL INTERPRET AND APPLY THESE RULES. ***

2. During Mediation

Mediation Process, Food and Beverages, Breaks, and Technology:

3. After Mediation:   The mediation is over – What to do next? 

This information provides suggestions on what to do next. 
CAUTION: This document is not legal advice.

Your mediation session is over. Now what should you do? 

This information provides suggestions on what to do next. 

***** CAUTION: This document is not legal advice. *****

If you have legal questions you should ask an attorney. Only an attorney can give legal advice. 

We cannot provide legal advice. We can provide the following general information to help guide your next steps. 

IF YOUR CASE SETTLED: 

  • The Graceful Advise mediator will provide the original signed Mediated Settlement Agreement (MSA) to the client to return to their Attorney for filing.
  • The court/ Attorney typically keeps the original MSA, and will provide each party with a copy. 
  • The court will not file the MSA or any other papers with the Clerk of your court. Either your or your Attorney will file
  • The court will send a report to your court stating only that the case settled. 
  • Usually within 30 days, the court will want you to file additional documents so the case can be finalized, closed, and removed from the court’s docket. 
  • It is your responsibility to prepare and submit any documents that the court needs for the case to be finalized and closed. You may need an attorney or additional mediation assistance in preparing these necessary papers and taking appropriate action. 
  • For a Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship or divorce cases, in most instances, you will need to schedule a hearing to “prove-up” the divorce or Parent-Child Relationship change. 
  • TODAY before you leave the courthouse, talk with the Court Coordinator of your court and ask what else you need to do so the case can be finalized and closed. 
  • Should you file your MSA with the Court Clerk? That is a question the parties must answer, and it should be discussed as part of the mediation process. 
  • You should know: 
    • Any document filed with the Court Clerk can be viewed by the public. Therefore, if your MSA contains any confidential information that you don’t want viewed by the public – such as Social Security numbers, drivers’ license numbers, and bank account information – be sure it is blacked out before filing. 
    • Some parties choose not to file their MSA because they want the terms of settlement to remain confidential. 

 

IF YOUR CASE DID NOT SETTLE: 

  • Graceful Advise will report to the court only that the case did not settle. Graceful Advise will not file any other papers with the Court Clerk.
  • TODAY, before you leave the courthouse, talk with the Court Coordinator of your court and ask what else you need to do so the case can proceed. 
  • It is your responsibility to prepare any documents necessary for the case to proceed and then to submit them to the court. There are rules and procedures that must be followed on a timely basis. You may need an attorney to assist you with preparing the necessary papers and taking any appropriate action. 
  • The Judge controls the court docket and will decide what happens next in your case in accordance with the rules and processes. 

Here are some valuable resources to help answer your questions. 

  • Dallas County Law Library. The library contains books, forms, and documents that you might find useful. The library is open 8:00a.m. – 5:00p.m. Monday through Friday on the 2nd Floor of the George Allen Courts Building. 
  • Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program. This is an organization dedicated to increasing and enhancing pro bono legal services to the poor in Dallas. For more information contact Michelle Alden at (214)748-1234 ext. 2234 or Alicia Hernandez at (214)220-7499. 
  • Legal Aid Hotline. The Dallas Bar Association provides a Legal Hotline on the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday of every month. You are welcome to call (214)220-7476 and ask for help with your legal questions. 
  • Lawyer Referral Service. The Dallas Bar Association can provide you with a referral to an attorney who can assist you. For a $20 consultation fee paid in advance, the attorney will meet with you for 30 minutes to discuss your matter. You and the attorney then decide whether you want to work with each other. You are responsible for paying the attorney. You may obtain a referral online at www.dallasbar.org/referral. Or call the DBA at (214)220-7444. 
  • Legal Aid of Nothwest Texas. Legal Aid provides free civil services to low-income residents who meet certain eligibility requirements. Call (888)529-5277 or visit www.lanwt.org. 
  • SMU Law School’s Legal Clinics. The SMU Law School provides representation for eligible low-income individuals. You can call the clinic at (214)768-2562. 
  • Texas Law Help. This website provides information, including “do-it-yourself” forms that you might find useful. www.texaslawhelp.org.
     

 

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