Please review common questions about mediation and Conflict Resolution Services below. If you have a question not answered, there is an email address at the bottom of the page to contact CRS.

What Mediation Is & How It Works

The basic idea of mediation has ancient roots, but the idea to use mediation as an alternative dispute resolution method has gained popularity in the last few decades. Why? There are several reasons, including:
  • Meditation is faster and more cost-efficient than litigation.
  • Parties involved are empowered to help reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
  • Mediation is confidential and focuses more relationships.

CRS mediators are impartial volunteers with diverse backgrounds who have completed state-approved, intensive training. Dedicated to neutrality, they facilitate the conversation, encourage people to hear each other, and help participants brainstorm solutions.

A CRS mediator has a very critical role in resolving conflict between parties. The CRS mediator is neutral, refrains from decision making or judging, ensures equality among disputants, generates movement when at an impasse, recognizes and halts manipulation by disputants, and knows that “no agreement” is better than a “forced agreement.”

CRS mediators are extensively trained in dispute resolution, and each must continue to meet the Accreditation and Re-Accreditation Guidelines enforced by the organization.

For a self-referred case, call or complete the mediation request form to provide us with some basic information. We then contact the other party and ask if he or she is willing to try mediation. Unless court ordered, mediation is a voluntary process, so we cannot force anyone to participate. However, once we explain the process and people understand the benefits, they usually want to resolve the dispute quickly and affordably through mediation.

When a case is court-ordered, we will follow the above-described process. However, in these cases, the parties must participate in mediation. If someone refuses to do so, CRS notifies the court of that individual’s decision, and the court may find her/him in contempt of court

Already faced with a Court action? CRS can help reduce the time, cost, and adversarial effects of your lawsuit.

Mediation is non-confrontational. The participants are working together to find a solution, rather than working against each other.

You will have the opportunity to explain the situation from your own point of view and to hear the others participants’ explanations from their points of view. Mediation can be held to accommodate your schedule. Everything said at mediation is confidential. Unlike the courts where one person must lose, mediation is a “win/win” situation. The goal is to reach an agreement that is satisfactory to everyone. About 80% of all mediations end in an agreement. It also often serves as a deterrent to future disputes between the participants.

Accessing CRS Services

The MI-Resolve Family System is specifically designed to help families work together to revise current court-ordered plans and even creating new plans to make up for missed time — all through the help of a highly trained mediator on a secure online platform. MI-Resolve Family is an asynchronous mediation process facilitated entirely online through written messages.

MI-Resolve Family is ideal for discussions of one aspect of a parenting time agreement, such as a specific holiday or exchange time or location.

Are you looking for an alternative way to resolve a dispute that would typically be filed as a small claims or landlord/tenant case in the district court? MI-Resolve is a service supported by the Michigan Supreme Court’s Administrative Office that provides a free, quick and easy means of resolving disputes through the use of mediation. MI-Resolve is an asynchronous mediation process facilitated entire online through written messages.

Mediation is a process in which a trained neutral third party—the mediator—works with the parties involved to identify a solution to a dispute that best works for them. Unlike the courts where one person must lose, mediation is a “win/win” situation.

Anyone can request mediation. However, participation in mediation is voluntary—unless ordered by the courts—so we can’t force anyone to participate. But once we explain the process and people understand the benefits, they usually want to resolve the dispute quickly and affordably through mediation.

Costs, Volunteering & Training

At Conflict Resolution Services, we don’t charge for mediation services and may even waive our fees if you meet certain criteria. However, in general we charge an administrative fee for all of the work required to set up mediation, file the paperwork, etc.

Legal Issues, Courts & Rights

The answer is both yes and no. For cases other than small claims disputes, your attorney can be present in mediation to provide you with any legal advice as needed. But unless there are special circumstances such as a personal protection order or domestic violence, attorneys take a back seat in mediation.

Our well-trained mediators work with both sides to ensure all perspectives are heard, and that all involved parties are satisfied with the collaborative resolution.

Yes, you can mediate a case with a PPO at Conflict Resolutions Services, but there will have to be additional precautions put into place.
  1. Mediation will have to be done via Zoom—in-person mediation isn’t an option.
  2. The victim must have an attorney present during mediation.
  3. To avoid direct contact between parties, breakout rooms will used during the mediation, in which the mediator will go back and forth between both parties.

Please notify CRS of the PPO as soon as you request mediation to ensure the precautions are used.

No, not even close. It’s true you shouldn’t believe everything you see on TV! While a court can order you to participate in mediation, an agreement in mediation is NEVER forced on those involved.

Instead, mediation works toward an agreement that both sides can agree on. Whereas one person must “lose” in the courts, mediation has a high success rate and can provide a “win-win” solution.

Yes, and we know what a stressful situation that can be. Our impartial, third-party mediators are trained in techniques that allow both parties to have their sides heard. They can help tenants communicate with their landlords to explore options that may not be available if the dispute was to go to the courts and potentially avoid eviction. However, it is important to request mediation early in the process. Once an eviction is ordered, mediation is far less effective.

When an agreement is reached, the terms of the agreement will be written down and signed by all parties. The signed agreement acts as a contract that is enforceable by the courts.

When a case is court ordered, the parties must participate in mediation. If someone refuses to do so, CRS notifies the court of that individual’s decision, and the consequences are decided by the judge. This may include case dismissal, default judgment in favor of the other party, or being found in contempt of court.

No, even if the mediator is an attorney, they have to remain a neutral, impartial third party throughout the mediation process and can’t provide any legal advice about your dispute. However, you can be given time to contact an attorney if needed during the process.

While we understand that filling out the court forms can feel confusing and overwhelming, our services at CRS are limited to the facilitation of mediation and the mediation services themselves. We can’t provide any legal help with your dispute, and you would need to reach out to the courts or legal counsel for help with the forms.

Sometimes despite the best efforts from both parties and the experienced mediator, an agreement that satisfies everyone involved simply can’t be reached. When this happens, it’s truly a case of “no harm, no foul,” and the mediation case just ends. At that point you can take your case to the courts and proceed through the normal court process.

Mediation is a dispute resolution process. While many courts refer or order parties to participate, mediation is not a legal proceeding over which the court presides. However, there is legislation that spells out guidelines for mediation, such as confidentiality. The ultimate goal of mediation is to reach a mutually acceptable written agreement that the parties involved in the dispute sign. That signed agreement serves as a legally binding document and typically results in withdrawal of the associate court case.

Logistics, Technology & Participation

Are you looking for an alternative way to resolve a dispute that would typically be filed as a small claims or landlord/tenant case in the district court? MI-Resolve is a service supported by the Michigan Supreme Court’s Administrative Office that provides a free, quick and easy means of resolving disputes through the use of mediation. MI-Resolve is an asynchronous mediation process facilitated entire online through written messages.

Mediation is a process in which a trained neutral third party—the mediator—works with the parties involved to identify a solution to a dispute that best works for them. Unlike the courts where one person must lose, mediation is a “win/win” situation.

If you’re facing a dispute, you likely want it resolved as quickly as possible. Taking a case to court can be a lengthy, expensive process, so you’ve decided to use mediation. How soon can we mediate your case? We typically schedule mediations between four and six weeks out, but may be able to address your case sooner in certain situations.

While a majority of our mediation sessions are done via Zoom, most conflicts can be mediated in-person as long as both parties agree to it. The exception would be if a personal protection order is in place, but generally speaking, in-person mediation is often an option.

Don’t worry! Not everyone is familiar with technology, and we do our best to accommodate those situations. If you can’t use Zoom, you can call into mediation. You just need to call our office for the phone number. And if you would like to participate via Zoom and are willing to leave home, you can also come into our office, and we’ll handle the technology for you on our computer.

Don’t worry. We’re not going to send you annoying emails that clog your inbox or sell your email address to spammers.

The reason we need your email address is that we have to send you the documents that require your electronic signature. For example, we need a confidentiality/agreement to mediate signed before mediation. And if you reach agreement during mediation, that’s also sent to you for your electronic signature.

Types of Mediation & Disputes

When allegations of child abuse and/or neglect result in children being removed from a home, it triggers a series of complex steps to ensure those innocent children are placed in a safe, permanent environment that’s in their best interest. Child protection mediation involves using a neutral third party—a specially trained mediator—to help everyone involved collaborate to find a mutually agreeable, beneficial solution for the children.

If your children are constantly misbehaving, and nothing that you’re doing is seeming to help the problem, it’s time to give mediation a try. Using a neutral, specially-trained mediator, we can help you and your children uncover the root of the issue, and then draft an agreement between you and your children that outlines the guidelines and consequences of their actions.
This helps take the “bad guy” role off your plate and instead positions you as someone willing to hear every side and collaboratively work towards a solution.

When your employees are constantly fighting and it affects both your workplace morale and productivity, you want to get to the root of the matter as quickly as possible. But because you have to remain impartial, it can be hard to know what to do.

Enter mediation.

By using a neutral, third-party mediator, your employees can both present their perspectives on the situation and work together with the mediator to come to a mutually beneficial agreement that doesn’t put you in the middle.

The Michigan Agricultural Mediation Program (MAMP) offers free mediation services to Michigan farmers to resolve their disputes outside of court. Farmers’ disputes covered by this grant can range from contract issues, estate and probate complications, adverse determinations by the USDA, bankruptcy, and just about any other conflict they may face concerning their farm.

Yes, and we know what a stressful situation that can be. Our impartial, third-party mediators are trained in techniques that allow both parties to have their sides heard. They can help tenants communicate with their landlords to explore options that may not be available if the dispute was to go to the courts and potentially avoid eviction. However, it is important to request mediation early in the process. Once an eviction is ordered, mediation is far less effective.

Disputes about construction projects can be costly and time-consuming. By avoiding the courts, you can potentially save not only money for court fees, but months or years of construction delay. To prepare for mediation, be sure to:
  • Document the nature and scope of the problem
  • Document the necessary fix or repairs
  • Document all related damages, such as those incurred due to a delay, nonperformance, etc.

If your questions were not answered here, please contact Conflict Resolution Services at 231-941-5835 or casemanager@crsmediationtc.org. Please note: CRS cannot provide legal advice.

Resource Links

Here are some helpful links related to our work. They will open in a new window, so just close that window to return to this page.

Other Michigan Mediation Providers

Questions about mediation?