Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Most civil disputes are resolved without filing a lawsuit, and most civil lawsuits are resolved without a trial. The courts and others offer a variety of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) processes to help people resolve disputes without a trial. Some of these processes include mediation, neutral evaluation, settlement conferences and arbitration.

These processes are flexible, cost-efficient, time-effective, and give the parties more control over the process and the results. Parties who resolve their disputes through ADR are generally more satisfied because they may directly participate in working out the terms of their settlement.