Mediation

Disputes do not always need to become lawsuits. Mediation gives people a structured, confidential, and solution-focused setting to work through disagreement with the assistance of a neutral mediator.

Attorney Gardner provides mediation services for matters including:

• Personal disputes between individuals;
• Business and commercial disputes;
• Contract disagreements;
• Small business conflicts;
• Partnership, ownership, or management disputes;
• Board, nonprofit, and organizational disputes;
• Neighbor or property-related disputes;
• Family-related disagreements;
• Pre-litigation settlement discussions;
• Disputes where the parties want to preserve a working relationship.

 Whether the issue involves money, communication breakdown, business operations, organizational governance, or a difficult personal conflict, mediation can often help parties identify practical solutions before positions harden and legal fees escalate. 

For some Wisconsin couples, divorce may be completed without a final in-person court appearance through a process known as divorce by affidavit.

This process can be especially helpful for spouses who have reached agreement on the terms of their divorce and want a more affordable, less stressful, and more efficient path forward. In appropriate cases, parties may be able to work with an attorney mediator to prepare the necessary agreements and affidavits so the divorce can be finalized without appearing before a judge or court commissioner. Attorney Gardner is pleased to offer this service, if it a good fit for a divorcing couple.

Divorce by affidavit may be a good fit for people searching for:

• Divorce without going to court in Wisconsin;
• Affordable divorce in Wisconsin;
• Low-conflict divorce options;
• Divorce mediation;
• Uncontested divorce assistance;
• Attorney mediator for divorce;
• A cheaper divorce process;
• A less stressful way to finalize divorce.

This option is not available in every case. The parties must meet the legal requirements, complete the required paperwork, and the court retains discretion to require an appearance if necessary. However, for qualifying cases, divorce by affidavit can reduce time away from work, reduce stress, and help parties avoid unnecessary court appearances.

Mediation is often a better first step than litigation because it can be:

More affordable. Court cases can become expensive quickly. Mediation may help resolve disputes before substantial attorney fees, filing costs, discovery expenses, and hearing preparation costs accumulate.

More efficient. Litigation can take months or years. Mediation can often be scheduled and completed faster.

More private. Mediation generally allows parties to work through disputes in a more private setting than open court proceedings.

More flexible. Courts are limited in what they can order. Mediation allows parties to consider practical, creative, and customized solutions.

More collaborative. Mediation can help preserve relationships between business partners, board members, neighbors, family members, or co-parents.

Less stressful. Avoiding unnecessary court appearances can reduce anxiety, disruption, and uncertainty.