With Arbitration the parties hire a private individual to decide their case.
The individual is usually an experienced family law lawyer or a mental health professional (when there are parenting issues only).
The Arbitrator reviews the evidence and arguments of each party in order to reach a decision that is binding on both parties.
- The process is similar to a court process, but is less formal and quicker.
- The Arbitration takes place in private, rather than in open court..
- Unlike when judges decide your case, the Arbitrator charges an hourly fee for his or her time. While this can add to the cost, the overall process is usually less expensive than litigation because the process is faster and less paper intensive.
Lawyers who provide Arbitration Services
Note
Typically, each party has their own lawyer to represent them at the Arbitration, and together they choose a suitable Arbitrator. However, parties may also choose to represent themselves.