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Frequently Asked Questions and How-To's

Nashville Conflict Resolution Center

Resolve your conflict without going in front of the Judge!
Try mediation instead, it's free, fast and effective.

WHAT IS MEDIATION?
Mediation is a private, confidential and voluntary process that allows parties to settle their own problems with the help of a trained impartial third person - a mediator. Any type case filed in the General Session Court may be resolved through mediation as long as (1) the persons involved are willing to communicate with one another with the help of the mediator and (2) no criminal charges are pending.
IT'S FREE!
The Nashville Conflict Resolution Center (NCRC) provides up to three hours of free mediation without cost for each case filed in General Sessions Court. We accept referrals from other agencies/organizations for cases not filed in General Sessions; a sliding fee scale based on income is used.
IT'S FAST.
Most cases are resolved during one mediation session lasting two hours or less. More than one-half of the cases are finished in one hour or less.
IT'S EFFECTIVE.
Studies show that more than 80% of all mediations end in agreement. Studies also show that more defendants abide by agreements that they helped to create than by the judgments imposed on them by the courts.
IT'S PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.
In order to encourage the exchange of information, all mediation session are confidential. No one can reveal in court what is said or done in mediation, and the mediator cannot be made to testify in court. Unlike the courts, mediation happens behind closed doors and remains private.
IT'S VOLUNTARY.
Participation in the mediation process is voluntary. Any party or the mediator may stop the session at any time for any reason.
YOU STAY IN CONTROL.
You, more than anyone else, know more about your conflict and what will work best for you. The mediator helps you to work together with the other party to find a creative, fair solution. You get to decide what is fair and best for you instead of the judge making that final decision for you. You have flexibility that the judge does not have. The mediator will not tell you how to resolve the case, act as a judge or give you legal advice. In contrast, when you go to court, you must follow all the legal rules about how to present your case and you give up all control over the outcome to the judge.
YOU PROTECT YOUR CREDIT.
If the court orders a judgment against you, the judgment is then recorded by the credit reporting agencies and placed on your personal credit report. The judgment has the same number of points as a tax lien and can remain on your personal credit report up to seven years, which may cause you difficulty when applying for loans, renting an apartment, or doing anything that requires good credit. Mediation can result in a private settlement agreement or an agreed judgment. An agreed judgment may be less damaging to your credit report than a judgment ordered against you by court. A private settlement agreement is not entered as a judgment and thus does not show on your credit record.
THE MEDIATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT IS LEGALLY BINDING.
A mediated settlement agreement may be a private contractual agreement between parties or it may be an agreed judgment from the court. Both types of agreements are legally enforceable and may be used as evidence in court.
YOU MAY STILL HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT.
If you are unable to reach an agreement through mediation, you may still have your case heard and decided by the judge. Therefore, you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain by resolving your conflict through mediation.